Systems and methods for virtual assistant routing

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and software are disclosed for processing requests from users of an infotainment system. The method includes receiving a request from a user of the infotainment system. The method includes determining a domain for the received request based on information contained in the received request. The domain specifies one or more categories for the request. The method includes routing the received request to a virtual assistant assigned to handle requests for the determined domain. The virtual assistant is one of a plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectively assigned domains. The method includes transmitting a response to the request to the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/435,096, filed Jun. 7, 2019, which is incorporated byreference in its entirety herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to infotainment systems, and, moreparticularly, to systems and methods for virtual assistant routing usedwith infotainment systems.

BACKGROUND

Infotainment systems provide users information and fulfil requests in anumber of contexts such as automobiles and at home. Apart from theconvenience of using infotainment systems, in some contexts,infotainment systems are relied upon more and more for safety purposes,including in times of emergency. At least some known infotainmentsystems rely upon a single information source via remote networkcommunication. In the event the single source is unavailable, some knownsystems do not provide an alternate means of obtaining information. Inother such systems, a single information source may be very well suitedfor providing information responsive to particular request categories,but not as well suited as compared to other information sources withrespect to other request categories.

At least some known infotainment systems may require users to makemultiple requests separately in time, rather than in a single spokenphrase, for example. Similarly, in cases of infotainment users makingvarious requests at or about the same time, some such systems may not beable to respond accordingly in a speedy, accurate and/or responsivemanner. For these, and other reasons, known systems and methods forprocessing and routing requests via infotainment systems may poseimpediments to user comfort and convenience and, in cases such asdriving or riding in a vehicle, may pose safety risks to users due toundue inconvenience and potential distraction during operation.

SUMMARY

The systems and methods for virtual assistant routing disclosed hereinpresent a new and improved methodology and system architecture forprocessing and routing virtual assistant requests and responses thereto.Users of the systems, methods and software described herein are providedwith a more comfortable, user-friendly, responsive, and safe interfacefor making virtual assistant requests and receiving prompt and accurateresponses from pertinent and reliable sources of information. Technicaleffects and user advantages such as these may be enjoyed in eithersingle- or multi-user contexts, including vehicles such as automobiles.In contexts like driving or riding in an automobile, user(s) operatingand/or otherwise interacting with the infotainment systems and relatedmethods and software disclosed herein are provided with convenient andeffective information and/or fulfillment of their various requests inmanner that is less prone to cause undue distraction and discomfort forthe driver, and thus safety and comfort of all vehicle occupants issubstantially improved.

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a method for processing requestsfrom users of an infotainment system is provided. The method includesthe steps of: receiving a request from a user of the infotainmentsystem; determining a domain for the received request based oninformation contained in the received request; routing the receivedrequest to a virtual assistant assigned to handle requests for thedetermined domain; and transmitting a response to the request to theuser.

In one embodiment of the method of the first aspect, the virtualassistant may be one of a plurality of virtual assistants respectivelyassigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectively assigneddomains. In the embodiment, the step of routing the received request tothe virtual assistant may include routing the received request to one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the steps of: receivingconfiguration information for assigning at least one domain to behandled by at least one of the plurality of virtual assistants; storingthe configuration information in at least one memory device; and mappingthe at least one domain to the at least one of the plurality of virtualassistants based on the received configuration information.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving the configuration information may includereceiving the configuration information via a graphical user interface(GUI).

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving the request may include receiving therequest from the user as speech; and the step of determining the domainfor the received request may include determining the domain for thereceived request based on information contained in the speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of identifying a spokenlanguage based on the information contained in the received speech. Inthe embodiment, the step of transmitting the response to the user mayinclude transmitting the response in the identified spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of determining the domain for the received request mayinclude mapping the received request to the domain based on theinformation contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving the request may include receiving therequest as a compound request including two or more requests from theuser; the step of mapping the received request to the domain may includeiteratively mapping each of the two or more requests to one of therespectively assigned domains; and the step of routing the receivedrequest to the virtual assistant may include iteratively routing each ofthe two or more requests to the one of the plurality of virtualassistants assigned to handle requests for each of the respectivelydetermined domains.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect: the step of receiving the request includes receiving the requestas a compound request including two or more requests from the user; thestep of determining the domain for the received request includesiteratively determining a respective domain for each of the two or morerequests; and the step of routing the received request to the virtualassistant includes iteratively routing each of the two or more requeststo the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for each respectively determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving the configuration information may includereceiving a designation of a default virtual assistant that is differentfrom the virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining theavailability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain. Inthe embodiment, the step of determining the availability of the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain may include: if, after a firstrequest transmission attempt, the one of the plurality of virtualassistants assigned to handle requests for the determined domain is notavailable, then for at least a second attempt, retransmitting therequest to the one of the plurality of virtual assistants. In theembodiment, the method may further include the step of transmitting therequest to the default virtual assistant. In the embodiment, the step oftransmitting the request to the default virtual assistant may include:transmitting the request to the default virtual assistant when, afterthe at least a second attempt, the one of the plurality of virtualassistants is not available. In the embodiment, the method may furtherinclude the step of determining an availability of the default virtualassistant, where determining the availability of the default assistantincludes: if, after at least a first request transmission attempt, thedefault assistant is not available, then for at least a second attempt,retransmitting the request to the default virtual assistant. In theembodiment, when, after the at least a second attempt, the defaultvirtual assistant is not available, then the method may further includethe step of transmitting a message to the user indicating that novirtual assistants are available.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of routing the received request to the virtualassistant may include determining an availability of the one of theplurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handle requestsfor the determined domain. In the embodiment, if the one of theplurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requests for thedetermined domain is available, then the step of routing the receivedrequest to the virtual assistant may include transmitting the request tothe one of the plurality of virtual assistants. In the embodiment, ifthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, then the step ofrouting the received request to the virtual assistant may includetransmitting the request to the default virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of routing the received request to the virtualassistant may include: transmitting the request to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants; and determining an availability of theone of the plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned tohandle requests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned tohandle requests for the determined domain is not available, then themethod may further include the step of retransmitting, for up to apredetermined number of iterations, the request to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants until it is determined that the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants is available. In the embodiment, ifthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, then the method mayfurther include the step of: transmitting the request to the defaultvirtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further comprise the step of: determining anavailability of the default assistant to handle the request. In theembodiment, if the default virtual assistant is not available, then themethod may further include the step of: retransmitting, for up to apredetermined number of iterations, the request to the default assistantuntil it is determined that the default virtual assistant is available.In the embodiment, if the default virtual assistant is not available,then the method may further include the step of transmitting a messageto the user indicating that no virtual assistants are available forprocessing requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the steps of: if one or more ofthe virtual assistants and/or the default virtual assistant is/are notavailable, then the method may further include the step of:retransmitting, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, therequest to the one of more virtual assistants and/or the defaultassistant until it is determined that the one of more virtual assistantsand/or the default assistant is/are available. In the embodiment, themethod may further include the step of transmitting a message to theuser indicating that a reattempt to transmit the request to the one ormore of the virtual assistants and/or the default virtual assistant willbe made after the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, one or more messages transmitted to the user may be transmittedas audible speech and/or text. In the embodiment, for the one or moremessages transmitted to the user as text, the text of the one or moremessages may be transmitted to the user via a display screen, which mayinclude a GUI.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining a spokenlanguage of the user based on the received speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the one or more messages transmitted to the user may betransmitted to the user in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of transmitting the response to the request to the usermay include transmitting the response in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of storing recordedaudio of the received speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of transmitting thestored audio to a text-to-speech (TTS) engine for voice modelgeneration.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of storing recorded audio of the received speech mayinclude storing the recorded audio of the received speech of one or morerequests received from the user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining a filesize of the stored audio.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of transmitting the stored audio to the TTS engine mayinclude transmitting the stored audio to the TTS engine when the storedaudio attains a predetermined file size.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of transmitting amessage to the user requesting a user permission status to transmit thestored audio to a text-to-speech (TTS) engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receiving the userpermission status from the user for whom the recorded audio of therequest received as speech was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the method mayfurther include the steps of: transmitting the stored audio to the TTSengine; receiving the generated voice model from the TTS engine; andstoring the received voice model according to a user identity of theuser for whom the recorded audio of the request received as speech wasstored. In the embodiment, if a negative user permission status isreceived, then the method may further include the step of deleting thestored audio of the user for whom the recorded audio of the requestreceived as speech was stored.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the user may include one or more users of the infotainmentsystem. In the embodiment, the method may further include the step ofstoring recorded audio of a speech sample of the one or more users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of transmitting amessage to the one of more users for whom the recorded audio of thespeech sample was stored requesting a permission status to transmit thestored audio of the speech sample to a TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receiving the userpermission status from the one or more users for whom the recorded audioof the speech sample was stored. In the embodiment, if an affirmativeuser permission status is received, then the method may further includethe steps of: transmitting the stored audio of the speech sample to theTTS engine; receiving the generated voice model from the TTS engine; andstoring the received voice model according to a user identity of the oneor more users for whom the recorded audio of the speech sample wasstored. In the embodiment, if a negative user permission status isreceived, the method may further include the step of deleting the storedaudio of the speech sample of the one or more users for whom therecorded audio of the speech sample was stored.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the steps of: determining aspoken language of the user based on the received speech of the user;and selecting a language model according to the determined spokenlanguage for at least one of: speech to text conversion, and text tospeech conversion, in one or more of the receiving, determining,routing, and transmitting steps of the method. In the embodiment, thestep of transmitting the response to the request to the user may includetransmitting the response in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving the request may include receiving aplurality of requests from a plurality of users of the infotainmentsystem.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving the plurality of requests from theplurality of users may include concurrently receiving the plurality ofrequests from the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the request received as speech may include a multi-user speechsignal. In the embodiment, the method may further include the step ofseparating the multi-user speech signal into a plurality of individualspeech signals for each of the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of transmitting the response to the request to the usermay include iteratively transmitting a plurality of responses to each ofthe plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining a time ofarrival (TOA) for each of the plurality of individual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of transmitting the response to the request to the usermay include iteratively transmitting a plurality of responses to each ofthe plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining a rankorder of determined TOAs.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of iteratively transmitting the plurality of responsesmay include first transmitting one of the plurality of responses havingthe least determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include receiving configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses to each of the plurality of requests according to an ascendingorder of determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of iteratively transmitting the plurality of responsesmay include first transmitting one of the plurality of responses havingthe greatest determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receivingconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining, for eachof the plurality of individual speech signals, a processing time fordetermining the domain for the received request based on the informationcontained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of transmitting the response to the request to the usermay include iteratively transmitting a plurality of responses to each ofthe plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining a rankorder of determined processing times.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of iteratively transmitting the plurality of responsesmay include first transmitting one of the plurality of responses havingthe least determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of iteratively transmitting the plurality of responsesmay include first transmitting one of the plurality of responses havingthe greatest determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receivingconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receivingconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of receiving configuration information for prioritizingiteratively transmitting the plurality of responses may includereceiving a user priority scheme for prioritizing iterativelytransmitting the plurality of responses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the user priority scheme may specify that a response to a firstuser is transmitted before a response is transmitted to at least asecond user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, each of the plurality of users may be positioned in a pluralityof spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining arespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones fromwhere one or more of the plurality of requests originated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of determining the respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where one or more of the pluralityof requests originated may include determining the respective one of theplurality of spatially-separated audio zones from where one or more ofthe plurality of requests originated based on one or more of: acomparison between amplitudes of received signals in the multi-userspeech signal, and a comparison between TOAs of received signals in themulti-user speech signal.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the at least two of the plurality of spatially-isolated audiozones may include a respective one or more audio loadspeakers. In theembodiment, the step of transmitting the response to the request to theuser may include transmitting each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, each of the plurality of spatially-isolated audio zones mayinclude a respective one or more audio loudspeakers. In the embodiment,the step of transmitting the response to the request to the user mayinclude transmitting each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining anidentity of each of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zonesfrom where the one or more of the plurality of requests originated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of determining the identity of the each of theplurality of spatially-separated audio zones may include comparing eachof the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones from where the oneor more requests originated to one or more stored pre-registered audiozone profiles.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receivingconfiguration information for registering audio zone profile(s) for oneor more of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones. In theembodiment, the audio zone profile(s) may include a name and/or alocation for the one or more of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of prepending a name ofa respectively determined audio zone identity to each of the pluralityof responses. In the embodiment, the step of transmitting the responseto the request to the user may include transmitting the name of therespectively determined audio zone identity prior to transmitting theresponse.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the steps of: determining anidentity of each of the plurality of users from whom one or more of theplurality of requests originated; and prepending a name of arespectively determined user identity to each of a plurality ofresponses to each of the plurality of requests. In the embodiment, thestep of transmitting the response to the request to the user may includetransmitting the name of the respectively determined user identity priorto transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of determining anidentity of each of the plurality of users from whom the one or more ofthe plurality of requests originated based on the plurality ofindividual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of determining the identity of each of the plurality ofusers may include comparing each of the plurality of users from whom theone or more of the plurality of requests originated to one or morestored pre-registered user profiles.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the steps of: receivingconfiguration information for registering user profile(s) for one ormore users of the infotainment system; and storing this receivedconfiguration information in at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the user profile(s) may include at least one of a firstname, a last name, a nickname, and a title, for the one or more users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of prepending a name ofa respectively determined user identity to each of the plurality ofresponses. In the embodiment, the step of transmitting the response tothe request to the user comprises transmitting the name of therespectively determined user identity prior to transmitting theresponse.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of prepending the nameof a respectively determined user identity, and the name of arespectively determined audio zone identity, to each of the plurality ofresponses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of rephrasing thereceived request. In the embodiment, the step of rephrasing the requestmay include determining a rephrased request based on the informationcontained in the request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of prepending therephrased request to the response to the request. In the embodiment, thestep of transmitting the response to the request to the user may includetransmitting the rephrased request prior to transmitting the response tothe received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of receivingconfiguration information for an audible speech response style fortransmitting the response to the request to the user. In the embodiment,the response style for transmitting the response to the request to theuser may include a voice gender, a volume, a spoken language, and aspeech rate (e.g., words per minute).

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the step of converting theinformation contained in the received speech from speech to requesttext.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of determining the domain for the received requestbased on information contained in the speech may include determining thedomain for the received request based on information contained in therequest text.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the step of routing the received request to the virtualassistant may include transmitting the request text to the virtualassistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the method of the firstaspect, the method may further include the steps of: receiving responsetext from the virtual assistant; and converting the response text toresponse speech for transmitting the response to the request to theuser.

In a second aspect of the disclosure, a system for processing requestsfrom users of an infotainment system is provided. The system includes:one or more input/output (I/O) devices for: receiving a request from auser of the infotainment system, and communicating a response to therequest to the user; a transceiver for: transmitting the request to avirtual assistant, and receiving a response to the request from thevirtual assistant; at least one memory device; and at least oneprocessor in communication with: the one or more I/O devices, thetransceiver, and the at least one memory device. The at least oneprocessor of the system is programmed to: receive the request from theinput device; determine a domain for the received request based oninformation contained in the received request, the domain specifying oneor more categories for the request; route the received request to thevirtual assistant assigned to handle requests for the determined domain,where the virtual assistant is one of a plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectivelyassigned domains; and transmit the response to the request to the user.

In one embodiment of the system of the second aspect, the virtualassistant may be one of a plurality of virtual assistants respectivelyassigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectively assigneddomains. In the embodiment, to route the received request to the virtualassistant, the at least one processor may be further programmed to routethe received request to one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for assigning at least one domain to behandled by at least one of the plurality of virtual assistants; storethe configuration information in the at least one memory device; and mapthe at least one domain to the at least one of the plurality of virtualassistants based on the received configuration information.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the one or more I/O devices may include at least one displayscreen. In the embodiment, to receive the configuration information, theat least one processor may be further programmed to: display a GUI tothe user on the at least one display screen; receive the configurationinformation from the user via the GUI; and store the configurationinformation in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the one or more I/O devices may include at least one microphone.In the embodiment: to receive the request, the at least one processormay be further programmed to receive the request from the user as speechvia the microphone; and to determine the domain for the receivedrequest, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine the domain for the received request based on informationcontained in the speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to identifya spoken language based on the information contained in the receivedspeech. In the embodiment, to transmit the response to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the responsein the identified spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to determine the domain for the received request, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to map the received request tothe domain based on the information contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect: to receive the request, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to receive the request as a compound requestincluding two or more requests from the user; to map the receivedrequest to the domain, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to iteratively map each of the two or more requests to one ofthe respectively assigned domains; and to route the received request tothe virtual assistant, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to iteratively route each of the two or more requests to theone of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requestsfor each of the respectively determined domains.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect: to receive the request, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to receive the request as a compound requestincluding two or more requests from the user; to determine the domainfor the received request, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to iteratively determine a respective domain for each of thetwo or more requests; and to route the received request to the virtualassistant, the at least one processor may be further programmed toiteratively route each of the two or more requests to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requests for eachrespectively determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to receive the configuration information, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to receive a designation of adefault virtual assistant that is different from the virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine the availability of the one of the plurality of virtualassistants respectively assigned to handle requests for the determineddomain. In the embodiment, to determine the availability of the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to: if, after a first request transmission attempt,the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, then for at least asecond attempt, retransmit the request to the one of the plurality ofvirtual assistants. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to transmit the request to the default virtualassistant. In the embodiment, to transmit the request to the defaultvirtual assistant, the at least one processor may be further programmedto: transmit the request to the default virtual assistant when, afterthe at least a second attempt, the one of the plurality of virtualassistants is not available. In the embodiment, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to determine an availability of thedefault virtual assistant. To determine the availability of the defaultassistant, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: if,after at least a first request transmission attempt, the defaultassistant is not available, then for at least a second attempt,retransmit the request to the default virtual assistant. In theembodiment, when, after the at least a second attempt, the defaultvirtual assistant is not available, then the at least one processor maybe further programmed to: transmit a message to the user indicating thatno virtual assistants are available.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to route the received request to the virtual assistant, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to determine anavailability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain. Inthe embodiment, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsassigned to handle requests for the determined domain is available, thenthe at least one processor may be further programmed to transmit therequest to the one of the plurality of virtual assistants. In theembodiment, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assignedto handle requests for the determined domain is not available, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the request tothe default virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to route the received request to the virtual assistant, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to: transmit the requestto the one of the plurality of virtual assistants; and determine anavailability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned tohandle requests for the determined domain is not available, then the atleast one processor may be further programmed to: retransmit, for up toa predetermined number of iterations, the request to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants until it is determined that the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants is available. In the embodiment, ifthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the request to thedefault virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine an availability of the default assistant to handle therequest. In the embodiment, if the default virtual assistant is notavailable, then the at least one processor may be further programmed toretransmit, for up to a predetermined number of iterations, the requestto the default assistant until it is determined that the default virtualassistant is available. In the embodiment, if the default virtualassistant is not available, then the at least one processor may befurther programmed to transmit a message to a user indicating that novirtual assistants are available for processing requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect: if one or more of the virtual assistants and/or the defaultvirtual assistant is/are not available, then the at least one processormay be further programmed to retransmit, after a predetermined period oftime has elapsed, the request to the one or more of the virtualassistants and/or the default assistant until it is determined that theone of more virtual assistants and/or the default assistant is/areavailable. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit a message to the user indicating that a reattemptto transmit the request to the one or more of the virtual assistantsand/or the default virtual assistant will be made after thepredetermined period of time has elapsed.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, one or more messages transmitted to the user may be transmittedas audible speech and/or text. In the embodiment, for the one or moremessages transmitted to the user as text, the text of the one or moremessages may be transmitted to the user via a display screen, which mayinclude a GUI.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a spoken language of the user based on the received speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the one or more messages transmitted to the user may betransmitted to the user in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the responsein the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to storerecorded audio of the received speech in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmitthe stored audio to a TTS engine for voice model generation.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to store the recorded audio of the received speech, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to store the recorded audio ofthe received speech of one or more requests received from the user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a file size of the stored audio.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to transmit the stored audio to the TTS engine, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the stored audio to theTTS engine when the stored audio attains a predetermined file size.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmita message to the user requesting a user permission status to transmitthe stored audio to the TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receivethe user permission status from the user for whom the recorded audio ofthe request received as speech was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to: transmit the stored audio to theTTS engine; receive the generated voice model from the TTS engine; andstore the received voice model in the at least one memory deviceaccording to a user identity of the user for whom the recorded audio ofthe request received as speech was stored. In the embodiment, if anegative user permission status is received, then the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to delete the stored audio of theuser for whom the recorded audio of the request received as speech wasstored from the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the user may include one or more users of the infotainmentsystem. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to store recorded audio of a speech sample of the one or moreusers in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmita message to the one of more users for whom the recorded audio of thespeech sample was stored requesting a permission status to transmit thestored audio of the speech sample to a TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receivethe user permission status from the one or more users for whom therecorded audio of the speech sample was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to: transmit the stored audio of thespeech sample to the TTS engine; receive the generated voice model fromthe TTS engine; and store the received voice model in the at least onememory device according to a user identity of the one or more users forwhom the recorded audio of the speech sample was stored. In theembodiment, if a negative user permission status is received, then theat least one processor may be further programmed to delete the storedaudio of the speech sample of the one or more users for whom therecorded audio of the speech sample was stored from the at least onememory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to:determine a spoken language of the user based on the received speech ofthe user; and select a language model according to the determined spokenlanguage for at least one of: speech to text conversion, and text tospeech conversion, for one or more of the receiving, determining,routing, and transmitting operations of the at least one processor. Inthe embodiment, to transmit the response to the request to the user may,the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmit theresponse in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to receive the request, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to receive a plurality of requests from a pluralityof users of the infotainment system.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to receive the plurality of requests from the plurality ofusers, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receivethe plurality of requests from the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the request received as speech may include a multi-user speechsignal. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to separate the multi-user speech signal into a plurality ofindividual speech signals for each of the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a TOA for each of the plurality of individual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a rank order of determined TOAs.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the least determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined TOA; and store the configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the greatest determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined TOA; and store the configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to, foreach of the plurality of individual speech signals, determine aprocessing time for determining the domain for the received requestbased on the information contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a rank order of determined processing times.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the least determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the greatest determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined processing time; and store theconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined processing times.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to receive the configuration information for prioritizingiteratively transmitting the plurality of responses, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to receive a user priority schemefor prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality of responses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the user priority scheme may specify that a response to a firstuser is transmitted before a response is transmitted to at least asecond user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, each of the plurality of users may be positioned in a pluralityof spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a respective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audiozones from where one or more of the plurality of requests originated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to determine the respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where one or more of the pluralityof requests originated, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to: determine the respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where one or more of the pluralityof requests originated based on one or more of: a comparison betweenamplitudes of received signals in the multi-user speech signal, and acomparison between TOAs of received signals in the multi-user speechsignal.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect: the one or more I/O devices may include a plurality of audioloudspeakers; at least two of the plurality of spatially-isolated audiozones may include a respective one or more audio loudspeakers of theplurality of audio loudspeakers; and to transmit the response to therequest to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, each of the plurality of spatially-isolated audio zones mayinclude a respective one or more audio loudspeakers of the plurality ofaudio loudspeakers. In the embodiment, to transmit the response to therequest to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine an identity of each of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones from where the one or more of the plurality of requestsoriginated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to determine the identity of the each of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to compare each of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where the one or more requestsoriginated to one or more pre-registered audio zone profiles stored inthe at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for registering audio zone profile(s) for oneor more of the plurality of spatially-separated zones; and store thisconfiguration information in the at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the audio zone profile(s) may include a name and/or alocation for the one or more of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependa name of a respectively determined audio zone identity to each of theplurality of responses. In the embodiment, to transmit the response tothe request to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit the name of the respectively determined audiozone identity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to:determine an identity of each of the plurality of users from whom one ormore of the plurality of requests originated; and prepend a name of arespectively determined user identity to each of a plurality ofresponses to each of the plurality of requests. In the embodiment, totransmit the response to the request to the user, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the name of therespectively determined user identity prior to transmitting theresponse.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine an identity of each of the plurality of users from whom theone or more of the plurality of requests originated based on theplurality of individual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to determine the identity of each of the plurality of users, theat least one processor may be further programmed to compare each of theplurality of users from whom the one or more of the plurality ofrequests originated to one or more pre-registered user profiles storedin the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for registering user profile(s) for one ormore users of the infotainment system; and store this receivedconfiguration information in the at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the user profile(s) may include at least one of a firstname, a last name, a nickname, and a title, for the one or more users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependa name of a respectively determined user identity to each of theplurality of responses. In the embodiment, to transmit the response tothe request to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit the name of the respectively determined useridentity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependthe name of a respectively determined user identity, and the name of arespectively determined audio zone identity, to each of the plurality ofresponses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to rephrasethe received request. In the embodiment, to rephrase the request, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to determine a rephrasedrequest based on the information contained in the request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependthe rephrased request to the response to the request. In the embodiment,to transmit the response to the request to the user, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the rephrased requestprior to transmitting the response to the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receiveconfiguration information for an audible speech response style fortransmitting the response to the request to the user. In the embodiment,the response style for transmitting the response to the request to theuser may include a voice gender, a volume, a spoken language, and aspeech rate (e.g., words per minute).

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to convertthe information contained in the received speech from speech to requesttext.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to determine the domain for the received request based oninformation contained in the speech, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to determine the domain for the received requestbased on information contained in the request text.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, to route the received request to the virtual assistant, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the requesttext to the virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the system of the secondaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveresponse text from the virtual assistant; and convert the response textto response speech for transmitting the response to the request to theuser.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium is provided. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium stores program instructions for processing requests from users ofan infotainment system, which, when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to: receive a request from a user ofthe infotainment system; determine a domain for the received requestbased on information contained in the received request, the domainspecifying a category for the request; route the received request to avirtual assistant assigned to handle requests for the determined domain,where the virtual assistant is one of a plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectivelyassigned domains; and transmit a response to the request to the user.

In one embodiment of the non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof the third aspect, the virtual assistant may be one of a plurality ofvirtual assistants respectively assigned to handle requests for aplurality of respectively assigned domains. In the embodiment, to routethe received request to the virtual assistant, the program instructionsmay further cause the at least one processor to route the receivedrequest to one of the plurality of virtual assistants respectivelyassigned to handle requests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: receiveconfiguration information for assigning at least one domain to behandled by at least one of the plurality of virtual assistants; storethe configuration information in at least one memory device; and map theat least one domain to the at least one of the plurality of virtualassistants based on the received configuration information.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to receive theconfiguration information, the program instructions may further causethe at least one processor: display a GUI to the user on at least onedisplay screen; receive the configuration information from the user viathe GUI; and store the configuration information in at least one memorydevice.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect: to receive therequest, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to receive the request from the user as speech via themicrophone; and to determine the domain for the received request, theprogram instructions may further cause the at least one processor todetermine the domain for the received request based on informationcontained in the speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to identify aspoken language based on the information contained in the receivedspeech. In the embodiment, to transmit the response to the user, theprogram instructions may further cause the at least one processor totransmit the response in the identified spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to determine thedomain for the received request, the program instructions may furthercause the at least one processor to map the received request to thedomain based on the information contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect: to receive therequest, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to receive the request as a compound request including two ormore requests from the user; to map the received request to the domain,the program instructions may further cause the at least one processor toiteratively map each of the two or more requests to one of therespectively assigned domains; and to route the received request to thevirtual assistant, the program instructions may further cause the atleast one processor to iteratively route each of the two or morerequests to the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned tohandle requests for each of the respectively determined domains.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect: to receive therequest, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to receive the request as a compound request including two ormore requests from the user; to determine the domain for the receivedrequest, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to iteratively determine a respective domain for each of thetwo or more requests; and to route the received request to the virtualassistant, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to iteratively route each of the two or more requests to theone of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requestsfor each respectively determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to receive theconfiguration information, the program instructions may further causethe at least one processor to receive a designation of a default virtualassistant that is different from the virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determinethe availability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain. Inthe embodiment, to determine the availability of the one of theplurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handle requestsfor the determined domain, the program instructions may further causethe at least one processor to: if, after a first request transmissionattempt, the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned tohandle requests for the determined domain is not available, then for atleast a second attempt, retransmit the request to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants. In the embodiment, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmitthe request to the default virtual assistant. In the embodiment, totransmit the request to the default virtual assistant, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: transmitthe request to the default virtual assistant when, after the at least asecond attempt, the one of the plurality of virtual assistants is notavailable. In the embodiment, the program instructions may further causethe at least one processor to determine an availability of the defaultvirtual assistant. To determine the availability of the defaultassistant, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to: if, after at least a first request transmission attempt,the default assistant is not available, then for at least a secondattempt, retransmit the request to the default virtual assistant. In theembodiment, when, after the at least a second attempt, the defaultvirtual assistant is not available, then the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to: transmit a message to theuser indicating that no virtual assistants are available.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to route thereceived request to the virtual assistant, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to determine an availability ofthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned tohandle requests for the determined domain. In the embodiment, if the oneof the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requests forthe determined domain is available, then the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to transmit the request to theone of the plurality of virtual assistants. In the embodiment, if theone of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requestsfor the determined domain is not available, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to transmit the request to thedefault virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to route thereceived request to the virtual assistant, the program instructions mayfurther cause the to: transmit the request to the one of the pluralityof virtual assistants; and determine an availability of the one of theplurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handle requestsfor the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, if the one of theplurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requests for thedetermined domain is not available, then the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to retransmit, for up to apredetermined number of iterations, the request to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants until it is determined that the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants is available. In the embodiment, ifthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, then the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmitthe request to the default virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determinean availability of the default assistant to handle the request. In theembodiment, if the default virtual assistant is not available, then theprogram instructions may further cause the at least one processor toretransmit, for up to a predetermined number of iterations, the requestto the default assistant until it is determined that the default virtualassistant is available. In the embodiment, if the default virtualassistant is not available, then the program instructions may furthercause the at least one processor to transmit a message to a userindicating that no virtual assistants are available for processingrequests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect: if one or more ofthe virtual assistants and/or the default virtual assistant is/are notavailable, then the program instructions may further cause the at leastone processor to retransmit, after a predetermined period of time haselapsed, the request to the one or more of the virtual assistants and/orthe default assistant until it is determined that the one of morevirtual assistants and/or the default assistant is/are available. In theembodiment, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to transmit a message to the user indicating that a reattemptto transmit the request to the one or more of the virtual assistantsand/or the default virtual assistant will be made after thepredetermined period of time has elapsed.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, one or moremessages transmitted to the user may be transmitted as audible speechand/or text. In the embodiment, for the one or more messages transmittedto the user as text, the text of the one or more messages may betransmitted to the user via a display screen, which may include a GUI.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determine aspoken language of the user based on the received speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the one or moremessages transmitted to the user may be transmitted to the user in thedetermined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to transmit theresponse to the request to the user, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to transmit the response in thedetermined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to storerecorded audio of the received speech in at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmitthe stored audio to a TTS engine for voice model generation.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to store therecorded audio of the received speech, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to store the recorded audio ofthe received speech of one or more requests received from the user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determine afile size of the stored audio.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to transmit thestored audio to the TTS engine, the program instructions may furthercause the at least one processor to transmit the stored audio to the TTSengine when the stored audio attains a predetermined file size.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmit amessage to the user requesting a user permission status to transmit thestored audio to a TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to receive theuser permission status from the user for whom the recorded audio of therequest received as speech was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: transmitthe stored audio to the TTS engine; receive the generated voice modelfrom the TTS engine; and store the received voice model in the at leastone memory device according to a user identity of the user for whom therecorded audio of the request received as speech was stored. In theembodiment, if a negative user permission status is received, then theprogram instructions may further cause the at least one processor todelete the stored audio of the user for whom the recorded audio of therequest received as speech was stored from the at least one memorydevice.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the user mayinclude one or more users of the infotainment system. In the embodiment,the program instructions may further cause the at least one processor tostore recorded audio of a speech sample of the one or more users in atleast one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmit amessage to the one of more users for whom the recorded audio of thespeech sample was stored requesting a permission status to transmit thestored audio of the speech sample to a TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to receive theuser permission status from the one or more users for whom the recordedaudio of the speech sample was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: transmitthe stored audio of the speech sample to the TTS engine; receive thegenerated voice model from the TTS engine; and store the received voicemodel in the at least one memory device according to a user identity ofthe one or more users for whom the recorded audio of the speech samplewas stored. In the embodiment, if a negative user permission status isreceived, then the program instructions may further cause the at leastone processor to delete the stored audio of the speech sample of the oneor more users for whom the recorded audio of the speech sample wasstored from the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions further cause the at least one processor to: determine aspoken language of the user based on the received speech of the user;and select a language model according to the determined spoken languagefor at least one of: speech to text conversion, and text to speechconversion, for one or more of the receiving, determining, routing, andtransmitting operations of the at least one processor. In theembodiment, to transmit the response to the request to the user may, theprogram instructions further cause the at least one processor totransmit the response in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to receive therequest, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to receive a plurality of requests from a plurality of usersof the infotainment system.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to receive theplurality of requests from the plurality of users, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to receive theplurality of requests from the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the requestreceived as speech may include a multi-user speech signal. In theembodiment, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to separate the multi-user speech signal into a plurality ofindividual speech signals for each of the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to transmit theresponse to the request to the user, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determine aTOA for each of the plurality of individual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to transmit theresponse to the request to the user, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of the third aspect, the program instructionsmay cause the at least one processor to determine a rank order ofdetermined TOAs.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to iterativelytransmit the plurality of responses, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the least determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions further cause the at least one processor to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined TOA; and store the configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses in at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to iterativelytransmit the plurality of responses, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the greatest determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined TOA; and store the configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses in at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to, for eachof the plurality of individual speech signals, determine a processingtime for determining the domain for the received request based on theinformation contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to transmit theresponse to the request to the user, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to iterativelytransmit the plurality of responses, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the least determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to firsttransmit one of the plurality of responses having the greatestdetermined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined processing time; and store theconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses in at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined processing times.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to receive theconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses, the program instructions may further cause theat least one processor to receive a user priority scheme forprioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality of responses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the user priorityscheme may specify that a response to a first user is transmitted beforea response is transmitted to at least a second user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, each of theplurality of users may be positioned in a plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determine arespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones fromwhere one or more of the plurality of requests originated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to determine therespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones fromwhere one or more of the plurality of requests originated, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: determinethe respective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zonesfrom where one or more of the plurality of requests originated based onone or more of: a comparison between amplitudes of received signals inthe multi-user speech signal, and a comparison between TOAs of receivedsignals in the multi-user speech signal.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect: at least two ofthe plurality of spatially-isolated audio zones include a respective oneor more audio loudspeakers; and to transmit the response to the requestto the user, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to transmit each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect: each of theplurality of spatially-isolated audio zones includes a respective one ormore audio loudspeakers; and to transmit the response to the request tothe user, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to transmit each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determinean identity of each of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zonesfrom where the one or more of the plurality of requests originated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to determine theidentity of the each of the plurality of spatially-separated audiozones, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to compare each of the plurality of spatially-separated audiozones from where the one or more requests originated to one or morepre-registered audio zone profiles stored in at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: receiveconfiguration information for registering audio zone profile(s) for oneor more of the plurality of spatially-separated zones; and store thisconfiguration information in at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the audio zone profile(s) may include a name and/or alocation for the one or more of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to prepend aname of a respectively determined audio zone identity to each of theplurality of responses. In the embodiment, to transmit the response tothe request to the user, the program instructions may further cause theat least one processor to transmit the name of the respectivelydetermined audio zone identity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of the third aspect, the program instructionsmay further cause the at least one processor: determine an identity ofeach of the plurality of users from whom one or more of the plurality ofrequests originated; and prepend a name of a respectively determineduser identity to each of a plurality of responses to each of theplurality of requests. In the embodiment, to transmit the response tothe request to the user, the program instructions may further cause theat least one processor to transmit the name of the respectivelydetermined user identity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to determinean identity of each of the plurality of users from whom the one or moreof the plurality of requests originated based on the plurality ofindividual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to determine theidentity of each of the plurality of users, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to compare each of theplurality of users from whom the one or more of the plurality ofrequests originated to one or more pre-registered user profiles storedin the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: receiveconfiguration information for registering user profile(s) for one ormore users of the infotainment system; and store this receivedconfiguration information in at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the user profile(s) may include at least one of a firstname, a last name, a nickname, and a title, for the one or more users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to prepend aname of a respectively determined user identity to each of the pluralityof responses. In the embodiment, to transmit the response to the requestto the user, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to transmit the name of the respectively determined useridentity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to prepend thename of a respectively determined user identity, and the name of arespectively determined audio zone identity, to each of the plurality ofresponses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to rephrasethe received request. In the embodiment, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to determine a rephrasedrequest based on the information contained in the request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to prepend therephrased request to the response to the request. In the embodiment, totransmit the response to the request to the user, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmitthe rephrased request prior to transmitting the response to the receivedrequest.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to receiveconfiguration information for an audible speech response style fortransmitting the response to the request to the user. In the embodiment,the response style for transmitting the response to the request to theuser may include a voice gender, a volume, a spoken language, and aspeech rate (e.g., words per minute).

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to convert theinformation contained in the received speech from speech to requesttext.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to determine thedomain for the received request based on information contained in thespeech, the program instructions may further cause the at least oneprocessor to determine the domain for the received request based oninformation contained in the request text.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, to route thereceived request to the virtual assistant, the program instructions mayfurther cause the at least one processor to transmit the request text tothe virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of the third aspect, the programinstructions may further cause the at least one processor to: receiveresponse text from the virtual assistant; and convert the response textto response speech for transmitting the response to the request to theuser.

In a fourth aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle is provided. The vehicleincludes an infotainment system. The vehicle includes a system forprocessing requests from users of the infotainment system. The systemfor processing requests from users of the infotainment system includes:one or more input/output (I/O) devices for: receiving a request from auser of the infotainment system, and communicating a response to therequest to the user; a transceiver for: transmitting the request to avirtual assistant, and receiving a response to the request from thevirtual assistant; at least one memory device; and at least oneprocessor in communication with: the one or more I/O devices, thetransceiver, and the at least one memory device. The at least oneprocessor is programmed to: receive the request from the input device;determine a domain for the received request based on informationcontained in the received request, the domain specifying one or morecategories for the request; route the received request to the virtualassistant assigned to handle requests for the determined domain, wherethe virtual assistant is one of a plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectivelyassigned domains; and transmit the response to the request to the user.

In one embodiment of the vehicle of the fourth aspect, the virtualassistant may be one of a plurality of virtual assistants respectivelyassigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectively assigneddomains. In the embodiment, to route the received request to the virtualassistant, the at least one processor may be further programmed to routethe received request to one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for assigning at least one domain to behandled by at least one of the plurality of virtual assistants; storethe configuration information in the at least one memory device; and mapthe at least one domain to the at least one of the plurality of virtualassistants based on the received configuration information.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the one or more I/O devices may include at least one displayscreen. In the embodiment, to receive the configuration information, theat least one processor may be further programmed to: display a GUI tothe user on the at least one display screen; receive the configurationinformation from the user via the GUI; and store the configurationinformation in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the one or more I/O devices may include at least one microphone.In the embodiment: to receive the request, the at least one processormay be further programmed to receive the request from the user as speechvia the microphone; and to determine the domain for the receivedrequest, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine the domain for the received request based on informationcontained in the speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to identifya spoken language based on the information contained in the receivedspeech. In the embodiment, to transmit the response to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the responsein the identified spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to determine the domain for the received request, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to map the received request tothe domain based on the information contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect: to receive the request, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to receive the request as a compound requestincluding two or more requests from the user; to map the receivedrequest to the domain, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to iteratively map each of the two or more requests to one ofthe respectively assigned domains; and to route the received request tothe virtual assistant, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to iteratively route each of the two or more requests to theone of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requestsfor each of the respectively determined domains.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect: to receive the request, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to receive the request as a compound requestincluding two or more requests from the user; to determine the domainfor the received request, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to iteratively determine a respective domain for each of thetwo or more requests; and to route the received request to the virtualassistant, the at least one processor may be further programmed toiteratively route each of the two or more requests to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants assigned to handle requests for eachrespectively determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to receive the configuration information, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to receive a designation of adefault virtual assistant that is different from the virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine the availability of the one of the plurality of virtualassistants respectively assigned to handle requests for the determineddomain. In the embodiment, to determine the availability of the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to: if, after a first request transmission attempt,the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, then for at least asecond attempt, retransmit the request to the one of the plurality ofvirtual assistants. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to transmit the request to the default virtualassistant. In the embodiment, to transmit the request to the defaultvirtual assistant, the at least one processor may be further programmedto: transmit the request to the default virtual assistant when, afterthe at least a second attempt, the one of the plurality of virtualassistants is not available. In the embodiment, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to determine an availability of thedefault virtual assistant. To determine the availability of the defaultassistant, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: if,after at least a first request transmission attempt, the defaultassistant is not available, then for at least a second attempt,retransmit the request to the default virtual assistant. In theembodiment, when, after the at least a second attempt, the defaultvirtual assistant is not available, then the at least one processor maybe further programmed to: transmit a message to the user indicating thatno virtual assistants are available.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to route the received request to the virtual assistant, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to determine anavailability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain. Inthe embodiment, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsassigned to handle requests for the determined domain is available, thenthe at least one processor may be further programmed to transmit therequest to the one of the plurality of virtual assistants. In theembodiment, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assignedto handle requests for the determined domain is not available, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the request tothe default virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to route the received request to the virtual assistant, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to: transmit the requestto the one of the plurality of virtual assistants; and determine anavailability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for the determined domain.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned tohandle requests for the determined domain is not available, then the atleast one processor may be further programmed to: retransmit, for up toa predetermined number of iterations, the request to the one of theplurality of virtual assistants until it is determined that the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants is available. In the embodiment, ifthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants assigned to handlerequests for the determined domain is not available, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the request to thedefault virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine an availability of the default assistant to handle therequest. In the embodiment, if the default virtual assistant is notavailable, then the at least one processor may be further programmed toretransmit, for up to a predetermined number of iterations, the requestto the default assistant until it is determined that the default virtualassistant is available. In the embodiment, if the default virtualassistant is not available, then the at least one processor may befurther programmed to transmit a message to a user indicating that novirtual assistants are available for processing requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect: if one or more of the virtual assistants and/or the defaultvirtual assistant is/are not available, then the at least one processormay be further programmed to retransmit, after a predetermined period oftime has elapsed, the request to the one or more of the virtualassistants and/or the default assistant until it is determined that theone of more virtual assistants and/or the default assistant is/areavailable. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit a message to the user indicating that a reattemptto transmit the request to the one or more of the virtual assistantsand/or the default virtual assistant will be made after thepredetermined period of time has elapsed.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, one or more messages transmitted to the user may be transmittedas audible speech and/or text. In the embodiment, for the one or moremessages transmitted to the user as text, the text of the one or moremessages may be transmitted to the user via a display screen, which mayinclude a GUI.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a spoken language of the user based on the received speech.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the one or more messages transmitted to the user may betransmitted to the user in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the responsein the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to storerecorded audio of the received speech in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmitthe stored audio to a TTS engine for voice model generation.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to store the recorded audio of the received speech, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to store the recorded audio ofthe received speech of one or more requests received from the user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a file size of the stored audio.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to transmit the stored audio to the TTS engine, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the stored audio to theTTS engine when the stored audio attains a predetermined file size.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmita message to the user requesting a user permission status to transmitthe stored audio to the TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receivethe user permission status from the user for whom the recorded audio ofthe request received as speech was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to: transmit the stored audio to theTTS engine; receive the generated voice model from the TTS engine; andstore the received voice model in the at least one memory deviceaccording to a user identity of the user for whom the recorded audio ofthe request received as speech was stored. In the embodiment, if anegative user permission status is received, then the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to delete the stored audio of theuser for whom the recorded audio of the request received as speech wasstored from the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the user may include one or more users of the infotainmentsystem. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to store recorded audio of a speech sample of the one or moreusers in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmita message to the one of more users for whom the recorded audio of thespeech sample was stored requesting a permission status to transmit thestored audio of the speech sample to a TTS engine.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receivethe user permission status from the one or more users for whom therecorded audio of the speech sample was stored. In the embodiment, if anaffirmative user permission status is received, then the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to: transmit the stored audio of thespeech sample to the TTS engine; receive the generated voice model fromthe TTS engine; and store the received voice model in the at least onememory device according to a user identity of the one or more users forwhom the recorded audio of the speech sample was stored. In theembodiment, if a negative user permission status is received, then theat least one processor may be further programmed to delete the storedaudio of the speech sample of the one or more users for whom therecorded audio of the speech sample was stored from the at least onememory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to:determine a spoken language of the user based on the received speech ofthe user; and select a language model according to the determined spokenlanguage for at least one of: speech to text conversion, and text tospeech conversion, for one or more of the receiving, determining,routing, and transmitting operations of the at least one processor. Inthe embodiment, to transmit the response to the request to the user may,the at least one processor may be further programmed to transmit theresponse in the determined spoken language.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to receive the request, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to receive a plurality of requests from a pluralityof users of the infotainment system.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to receive the plurality of requests from the plurality ofusers, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receivethe plurality of requests from the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the request received as speech may include a multi-user speechsignal. In the embodiment, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to separate the multi-user speech signal into a plurality ofindividual speech signals for each of the plurality of users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a TOA for each of the plurality of individual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a rank order of determined TOAs.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the least determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined TOA; and store the configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the greatest determined TOA.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined TOA; and store the configurationinformation for prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to, foreach of the plurality of individual speech signals, determine aprocessing time for determining the domain for the received requestbased on the information contained in the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to transmit the response to the request to the user, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to iteratively transmit aplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a rank order of determined processing times.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the least determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to iteratively transmit the plurality of responses, the at leastone processor may be further programmed to first transmit one of theplurality of responses having the greatest determined processing time.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toan ascending order of determined processing time; and store theconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses in the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receiveconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting theplurality of responses to each of the plurality of requests according toa descending order of determined processing times.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to receive the configuration information for prioritizingiteratively transmitting the plurality of responses, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to receive a user priority schemefor prioritizing iteratively transmitting the plurality of responses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the user priority scheme may specify that a response to a firstuser is transmitted before a response is transmitted to at least asecond user.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, each of the plurality of users may be positioned in a pluralityof spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine a respective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audiozones from where one or more of the plurality of requests originated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to determine the respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where one or more of the pluralityof requests originated, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to: determine the respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where one or more of the pluralityof requests originated based on one or more of: a comparison betweenamplitudes of received signals in the multi-user speech signal, and acomparison between TOAs of received signals in the multi-user speechsignal.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect: the one or more I/O devices may include a plurality of audioloudspeakers; at least two of the plurality of spatially-isolated audiozones may include a respective one or more audio loudspeakers of theplurality of audio loudspeakers; and to transmit the response to therequest to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, each of the plurality of spatially-isolated audio zones mayinclude a respective one or more audio loudspeakers of the plurality ofaudio loudspeakers. In the embodiment, to transmit the response to therequest to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit each of the plurality of responses to therespective one or more audio loudspeakers according to the determinedrespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine an identity of each of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones from where the one or more of the plurality of requestsoriginated.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to determine the identity of the each of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to compare each of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where the one or more requestsoriginated to one or more pre-registered audio zone profiles stored inthe at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for registering audio zone profile(s) for oneor more of the plurality of spatially-separated zones; and store thisconfiguration information in the at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the audio zone profile(s) may include a name and/or alocation for the one or more of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependa name of a respectively determined audio zone identity to each of theplurality of responses. In the embodiment, to transmit the response tothe request to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit the name of the respectively determined audiozone identity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to:determine an identity of each of the plurality of users from whom one ormore of the plurality of requests originated; and prepend a name of arespectively determined user identity to each of a plurality ofresponses to each of the plurality of requests. In the embodiment, totransmit the response to the request to the user, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the name of therespectively determined user identity prior to transmitting theresponse.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed todetermine an identity of each of the plurality of users from whom theone or more of the plurality of requests originated based on theplurality of individual speech signals.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to determine the identity of each of the plurality of users, theat least one processor may be further programmed to compare each of theplurality of users from whom the one or more of the plurality ofrequests originated to one or more pre-registered user profiles storedin the at least one memory device.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveconfiguration information for registering user profile(s) for one ormore users of the infotainment system; and store this receivedconfiguration information in the at least one memory device. In theembodiment, the user profile(s) may include at least one of a firstname, a last name, a nickname, and a title, for the one or more users.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependa name of a respectively determined user identity to each of theplurality of responses. In the embodiment, to transmit the response tothe request to the user, the at least one processor may be furtherprogrammed to transmit the name of the respectively determined useridentity prior to transmitting the response.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependthe name of a respectively determined user identity, and the name of arespectively determined audio zone identity, to each of the plurality ofresponses.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to rephrasethe received request. In the embodiment, to rephrase the request, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to determine a rephrasedrequest based on the information contained in the request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to prependthe rephrased request to the response to the request. In the embodiment,to transmit the response to the request to the user, the at least oneprocessor may be further programmed to transmit the rephrased requestprior to transmitting the response to the received request.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to receiveconfiguration information for an audible speech response style fortransmitting the response to the request to the user. In the embodiment,the response style for transmitting the response to the request to theuser may include a voice gender, a volume, a spoken language, and aspeech rate (e.g., words per minute).

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to convertthe information contained in the received speech from speech to requesttext.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to determine the domain for the received request based oninformation contained in the speech, the at least one processor may befurther programmed to determine the domain for the received requestbased on information contained in the request text.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, to route the received request to the virtual assistant, the atleast one processor may be further programmed to transmit the requesttext to the virtual assistant.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the at least one processor may be further programmed to: receiveresponse text from the virtual assistant; and convert the response textto response speech for transmitting the response to the request to theuser.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the vehicle of the fourthaspect, the vehicle is an automobile.

Further and alternative aspects and features of the disclosed principleswill be appreciated from the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings. As will be appreciated, the principles related tothe disclosed systems, methods, and software for virtual assistantrouting are capable of being carried out in other and differentembodiments, and capable of being modified in various respects.Accordingly, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand do not restrict the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interior of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a system diagram depicting exemplary components in a vehicleinfotainment system;

FIG. 3 is a plan view diagram illustrating an exemplary interior of avehicle including an infotainment system;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for processingrequests from users of an infotainment system;

FIG. 5 is block diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of a system forprocessing requests from users of an infotainment system;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is block diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of a system forprocessing requests from users of an infotainment system;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is block diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of a system forprocessing requests from users of an infotainment system;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of a systemfor processing requests from users of an infotainment system;

FIG. 14A is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 14B is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart diagram illustrating exemplary aspects of themethod shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components of aprocessing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the disclosure or the application and uses of thedisclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by anyexpressed or implied theory presented in the preceding background andbrief description of the drawings, or the following detaileddescription.

Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments orfeatures, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same orcorresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements describedherein, are made collectively or individually when there may be morethan one element of the same type. However, such references are merelyexemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements inthe singular may also be construed to relate to the plural andvice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exactnumber or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in theappended claims.

This disclosure relates to managing increasingly complex in-vehicleinfotainment, safety and automation systems. In certain embodiments, amulti-modal interface is provided for a user to interact with anin-vehicle infotainment system. The multi-modal interface provides usersmultiple types of devices and methods by which they may interact withthe infotainment system in a convenient and minimally intrusive manner.Users may interact with the infotainment system using just one mode, orthey may interact with the infotainment system using two or more modes(e.g., two or more of speech, touch, and gesture). As described below,in some embodiments the multi-modal interface may include microphonesand a speech recognition system, gesture input sensors and a gesturerecognition system, head and eye tracking sensors and a head positionand eye gaze direction measurement system, physical input controls and aphysical control interpreter, and touch-sensitive displays and a touchsensitive display input interpreter. One or more of these input systemsmay be combined to provide the multi-modal interface.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary interior of a vehicle. Thevehicle interior 100 includes common vehicle components such as asteering wheel 102, control levers 104 and dashboard 106. A center stack108 is located between the driver position 110 and front passengerposition 112. In the illustrated embodiment, three displays areprovided. Each of the displays can be touch sensitive or non-touchsensitive. A first display is the instrument cluster display 114, whichin front of the driver position 110. A second display is the centerstack display 116 located in the center stack 108. A third display isthe front passenger display 118 located in front of the front passengerposition 112. Each of the three illustrated displays may comprisemultiple individual displays. For example, in some embodiments, thecenter stack display 116 may be comprised of multiple individualdisplays.

Additionally, the vehicle interior 100 includes a first physical inputcontrol 120 and a second physical input control 122. As illustrated,physical input controls 120 and 122 are knobs. In other embodiments, thecontrols can be any appropriate physical input, such as a button orslider. The physical input controls 120 and 122 can be mounted on thecenter stack display 116 or may be mounted onto the passenger display118. In some embodiments, when mounted on a display, the center of thephysical input controls 120 and 122 is open, allowing the display to bevisible. In other embodiments, the physical input controls 120 may bemoveable to any position on a display, such as center stack display 116and passenger display 118. For example, physical input controls 120 and122 include physical input control display areas 124 and 126. In someembodiments, the physical input control display areas 124 and 126 arepart of another screen, such as the center stack display 116. In otherembodiments, physical input control display areas 124 and 126 each havea physical input control display separate from other displays in thevehicle. In this way, physical input controls 120 and 122 can havedisplays 124 and 126 mounted on them. Physical input controls 120 and122 can be dynamically assigned a function, based either on theapplication being displayed or on a user command. The physical inputcontrol displays 124 and 126 can display an indication of the functionassigned to their respective physical input controls 120 and 122.

Each of the displays can display in-vehicle infotainment, safety andautomation systems. For example, the instrument cluster display 114 maydisplay vehicle information, such as speed and fuel level and anavigation application. In this way, the displays can show more than oneapplication at a time. An application can be any infotainment, safety orautomation function shown on a display. In some embodiments, certainapplications are not shown on the instrument cluster display 114. Forexample, applications such as video playback and messaging applicationsmay distract a driver. Therefore, in some embodiments, instrumentcluster display 114 only displays applications that will not distract adriver.

In the illustrated embodiment center stack display 116 shows a weatherapplication. This display can show any appropriate application. Asdescribed above, examples include, but are not limited to, a weatherapplication, a music application, a navigation application, a climatecontrol application, a messaging application and a video playbackapplication. In some embodiments multiple applications can be displayedat once. Additionally, the vehicle interior 100 includes audioloudspeakers 128 and 130 positioned in two or more locations in vehicleinterior 100. In some embodiments, the vehicle interior 100 (e.g.,cabin) includes additional loudspeakers instead of, or in addition to,loudspeakers 128 and 130 that are distributed throughout the vehicleinterior 100 (e.g., cabin). As described below, the audio loudspeakersmay be used to provide audio feedback to an occupant of the vehicle. Theaudio loudspeakers may also be used to provide infotainment functions,such as music playback, navigation prompts. Additionally, theloudspeakers may be used to provide vehicle status indications.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram depicting various components in a vehicleinfotainment system 200. Inputs 201 to the system include one or moremicrophones 202, gesture input sensors 204, head and eye trackingsensors 206, physical input controls 208 and touch sensitive displays210. A processing system 212 processes data from each of the inputs 201.The processing system 212 can be one or more general purpose orspecialty processors. Each of the systems and functions in theprocessing system 212 can be implemented in software or hardware, usingfor example, an FPGA or ASIC. Each of the systems and functions in theprocessing system 212 can also be a combination of hardware andsoftware.

A speech recognition system 214 connects to the microphones 202. Thespeech recognition system 214 can listen for a “wake” word or phrase.The wake word or phrase can be a name or phrase, such as “hello car.”After the speech recognition system 214 detects the wake word, thesystem listens for a command from a user 256. A command can be, forexample, to put a specific application on a specific display. Forexample, user 256 could say the wake word followed by “put navigation onthe center display.” After recognizing that command, the infotainmentsystem would put a navigation application on the center stack display116. Similar commands can be issued for the various combinations ofapplications and displays supported by the infotainment system.

A gesture recognition system 216 connects to the gesture input sensors204. The gesture recognition system 216 recognizes when user 256 makes agesture. For example, gesture recognition system 216 can recognize auser 256 pointing at an object or motioning towards an object. If a user256 points or gestures towards one of the displays or physical inputcontrols, the gesture recognition system 216 will recognize the gesture.

A head position and gaze direction measurement system 218 connects tothe head and eye tracking sensors 206. The head position and gazedirection measurement system 218 determines where a user 256 is looking.For example, if a user 256 is looking at a display or physical inputcontrol, head position and gaze direction measurement system 218 willrecognize where the user 256 is looking. The head position and gazedirection measurement system 218 can also determine that the user 256 isnot looking at part of the vehicle infotainment system 200 (which may bemore succinctly referred to herein as system 200). For example, a user256 may be looking at the windshield, the rear-view mirror, side viewmirror, shifter knob, etc.

A physical input control interpreter 220 connects to the physical inputcontrols 208. The physical input control interpreter 220 determines if auser 256 is interacting with or touching one of the physical inputcontrols 208. For example, if a user 256 is turning a knob or touching asurface, the physical input control interpreter 220 will determine whichphysical input control the user 256 is interacting with, and thephysical action the user 256 is making.

A touch sensitive display input interpreter 222 connects to the touchsensitive displays 210. The touch sensitive display input interpreter222 determines if a user 256 is interacting with or touching one of thetouch sensitive displays 210. For example, if a user 256 is interactingwith or touching one of the touch sensitive displays 210, touchsensitive display input interpreter 222 will determine which display theuser 256 is interacting with, and the touch gesture the user 256 ismaking.

Each of the speech recognition system 214, gesture recognition system216, head position and gaze direction measurement system 218, physicalinput control interpreter 220, and touch sensitive display inputinterpreter 222 connect to an object of interest processor 224. Theobject of interest processor 224 determines which object a user 256 isinterested in based on a combination of one or more of the inputsystems, speech recognition system 214, gesture recognition system 216,head position and gaze direction measurement system 218, physical inputcontrol interpreter 220, and touch sensitive display input interpreter222.

For example, a user 256 may initiate an interaction by activating thespeech recognition system 214 using either a wake word or by touching abutton on one of the touch sensitive displays 210 or physical inputcontrols 208. The user 256 can then speak a command, such as “Putnavigation on that display” or “I want to see the weather on thisdisplay.” Additional exemplary commands include “move navigation fromthis display to that display” and “remove driver temperature from thisknob.” As described above, in some embodiments any application can beused on any display.

If the user 256 issues a complete voice command, such as “Put navigationon the center stack display,” then the object of interest processor 224can determine from the speech recognition system 214 alone that theobject of interest is the center stack display 116. However, if a user256 issues an ambiguous voice command, such as “Put navigation on thatdisplay”, then the object of interest processor 224 must determine whichobject the user 256 is referring to. The object of interest processor224 uses a combination of one or more of the input systems. For example,if a user 256 issues an ambiguous voice command, such as “Put navigationon that display”, then the object of interest processor 224 determineswhich display the user 256 is referring to based on the remaining inputsystems. If the gesture recognition system 216 determines that the user256 is pointing to a particular display, such as the center stackdisplay 116, the object of interest processor 224 determines that theobject of interest is the center stack display 116. Likewise, the headposition and gaze direction measurement system 218 will determine if theuser 256 is looking at a particular display or physical input controlwhen issuing a command. The object of interest processor 224 will thendetermine the display or physical input of interest based on the headposition and gaze direction measurement system 218 input.

Similarly, the physical input control interpreter 220 determines if theuser 256 is touching or interacting with one of the physical controls208. The object of interest processor 224 will then determine thephysical input control is the object of interest based on the physicalinput control interpreter 220 input. Similarly, the touch sensitivedisplay input interpreter 222 determines if the user 256 is touching orinteracting with one of the touch sensitive displays 210. The object ofinterest processor 224 will then determine one of the displays is theobject of interest based on the touch sensitive display inputinterpreter 222.

The object of interest processor 224 can also determine the object ofinterest based on a user's 256 position in the vehicle. Using acombination of the inputs, the object of interest processor 224determines where the user 256 issuing a command is located in thevehicle. If a user 256 issues a command, such as “Put the weather on mydisplay”, the object of interest processor 224 will determine that theobject of interest is the display associated with the user 256. Forexample, if the user 256 is in the front passenger location, the objectof interest processor 224 will determine that the object of interest isthe front passenger display 118. Additionally, the object of interestprocessor 224 may determine the object of interest relative to theposition of the user 256. For example, a user 256 may issue a command,such as “put weather on the display behind me” or “show navigation onthe screen next to me.” In this example, based on the position of theuser 256, the object of interest processor 224 would then determine thatthe object of interest is the display behind the user 256 or the displaynext to the user 256.

The intent processor 226 determines the intent of a user's 256 command.The following examples illustrate the use of the intent processor 226.However, any appropriate command can be issued by a user 256. Forexample, if a user 256 issues an ambiguous voice command, such as “Putnavigation on that display”, and the object of interest processor 224determines through one or more of the remaining inputs that the user 256is referring to the front passenger display 118, then the intentprocessor 226 determines that the user 256 wants to put the navigationapplication on the front passenger display 118. Similarly, a user 256can issue a command, such as “Make that knob control the volume.” Theobject of interest processor 224 determines through one or more of theremaining inputs that the user 256 is referring to a particular physicalinput, such as 122. Then the intent processor 226 determines that theuser 256 wants to make physical input control 122 the volume control forthe infotainment system.

The output generator 228 then generates the appropriate output based onthe intent processor 226. For example, if the intent processor 226determines that the user 256 wants to put the navigation application onthe front passenger display 118, then the output generator directs thenavigation application to the front passenger display 118. The outputgenerator 228 can provide information through various outputs 230including audio output/loudspeakers 232, visual output/displays 234 andtouch output/haptic actuators 236. The touch output/haptic actuators 236can be embedded in any of the displays or physical input controls toprovide touch output to a user 256. The visual output/displays 234 canbe any of the display in the vehicle. The audio output/loudspeakers 232can be any or all of the loudspeakers associated with the vehicleinfotainment system. Inputs 201 and outputs 230 may be more succinctlyreferred to herein as one or more input/output (I/O) devices.

System 200 includes one or more memory devices 240, also collectivelyreferred to herein as memory 240. Memory 200 is in communication with atleast one processor (e.g., 224, 226, and/or 228, which may be moresuccinctly referred to herein as processor(s) 243) of processing system212. Processor(s) 243 are in communication with the one or more I/Odevices. Processor(s) 243 are capable of carrying out multiple functionsin system 200. Memory 240 includes at least one non-transitorycomputer-readable medium 241. Non-transitory computer-readable medium241 stores program instructions (e.g., software (or firmware) 242) forprocessing requests 252 from users 256 of system 200. Software 242includes one or more software modules 244. When executed by processor(s)243, the program instructions cause the processor(s) 243 to implementand/or otherwise perform or facilitate, at least in part, one or more ofthe disclosed steps of the disclosed methods, including, withoutlimitation, using system 200.

System 200 includes at least one transceiver 238. Transceiver(s) 238 arein communication with processor(s) 243 to transmit a request 252 fromthe user 256 to a one or more virtual assistants 246 in communicationwith processor(s) 243 via transceiver(s) 238, and to receive a response254 to the request 252 from the virtual assistant(s) 246. In someembodiments, one or more virtual assistants 246 are embedded in theinfotainment system 200 rather than being cloud-based virtualassistant(s) 246. In such cases, processor(s) 243 may dispense withusing transceiver(s) 238 and network 150 to transmit the request 252from user 256 to the virtual assistant(s) 246. Where system 200 iscapable of utilizing a plurality of virtual assistants 246 forprocessing requests 252 from users 256 of system 200, virtual assistants246 include a default virtual assistant 248. In some embodiments, thedefault assistant 248 is embedded in the infotainment system 200 ratherthan being cloud-based default assistant(s) 248. In such cases,processor(s) 243 may dispense with using transceiver(s) 238 and network150 to transmit the request 252 from user 256 to the default assistant248. In an embodiment, not shown in FIG. 2, system 200 includes separatereceiver and transmitter components in communication with processor(s)243, and which are capable of carrying out substantially equivalentfunctions in system 200 as transceiver(s) 238.

In system 200, transceiver(s) 238 facilitate communication betweenprocessor(s) 243 and virtual assistant(s) 246 communicate with oneanother using signals (e.g., encoded data signals) sent and/or receivedthrough, a network 250. Communication among and between processor(s) 243and virtual assistant(s) 246 using network 250 includes wirelesscommunication equipment and protocols, for example, and withoutlimitation, cellular and/or satellite protocols, practices, and/orstandards. Communication among and between processor(s) 243 and virtualassistant(s) 246 using network 250 may include a combination of wirelessand wired communication equipment and protocols. For example,communication among and between processor(s) 243 and virtualassistant(s) 246 may include wireless and/or wired communicationequipment and protocols for utilizing cloud-based processing, datastorage, and/or communication resources.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a vehicle interior 300 including aninfotainment system. The vehicle includes steering wheel 302 anddashboard 310. Various displays including instrument cluster display304, center stack display 306, and front passenger display 308 areincluded. Physical input controls 312 and 314 are also included. In theillustrated embodiment, driver seat 316 including driver seat back 318is shown. Likewise, front passenger seat 322 including front passengerseat back 324 is illustrated. A first rear passenger display 320 ismounted to driver seat back 318 and a second rear passenger display 326is mounted to front passenger seat back 324. As described above in someembodiments, any of the displays can show any application. In someembodiments, certain applications, such as video playback, are preventedfrom being shown on the instrument cluster display 304.

Sensors 328 include the various inputs 201 discussed above. As describedabove, the sensors 328 may include one or more microphones 202, gestureinput sensors 204, head and eye tracking sensors 206, physical inputcontrols 208 and touch sensitive displays 210. While the illustratedembodiment shows five sensors, various numbers of sensors can be used.

Additionally, in some embodiments all sensors 328 do not include allinputs. For example, there may be more sensor locations with microphonesthen gesture input sensors. Additionally, in some embodiments, theplacement of various sensors will vary. Microphones, gesture inputsensors, and head and eye tracking sensors may be put in the samelocations as illustrated, but may also be put in various locations. Thelocation of the sensors within a vehicle will vary. Additionally, thevehicle interior 100 includes audio loudspeakers 128 and 130 forproviding audible information and feedback associated with the vehicleand infotainment system.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method 400 for processing requests 252 fromusers 256 of an infotainment system. In the illustrated examples, themethod 400 shown in FIG. 4 is implemented, at least in part, using thesystem 200 of FIG. 2. While system 200 has been described herein as avehicle infotainment system 200 used in the context of vehicle interiors(e.g., 100 and/or 300), a person of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize and appreciate that system 200, and any of the disclosedsystems and methods associated therewith may be readily practiced in,and adopted to, physical contexts instead of, or in addition to,vehicles. For instance, the disclosed systems and methods may bepracticed, and their numerous benefits and advantageous technicaleffects may be realized, in any physical setting where, as in any singleor multi-passenger, commercial or non-commercial, land, sea, air orspace vehicle, users 256 may wish to take advantage of infotainmentsystems for any reason.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, method 400 includes receiving 401, byprocessor(s) 243, the request 252 of the user 256 from the inputdevice(s) (e.g., as input(s) 201 to I/O device(s)). Method 400 includesdetermining 402, by processor(s) 243, a domain for the received request252 based on information contained in the received request 252. Thedomain specifies one or more categories for the request 252. Forinstance, a user 256 request 252 such as “what will the weather be inKyoto tomorrow?” is determined 402 to be in a domain including a weathercategory, while a user 256 request such as “order and overnight ship 1box of Cheerios to my home address” is determined 402 to be in a domainincluding a shopping category.

Method 400 includes routing 403, by processor(s) 243 and usingtransceiver(s) 238, the received request 252 to the virtual assistant246 assigned to handle requests 252 for the determined domain. Methodincludes transmitting 404, by processor(s) 243 and using transceiver(s)238 and output device(s) (e.g., as output(s) 230 to I/O device(s)), theresponse 254 to the request 252 to the user 256.

FIG. 5 is block diagram of one aspect of a system 500 for processingrequests 252 from users 256 of an infotainment system (e.g., system200). FIGS. 6-8 are flow charts of exemplary aspects of method 400according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to FIGS.1-8, system 500 may be a subsystem of system 200 and may be implemented,at least in part, by system 200. System 500 utilizes one or more of theI/O devices of system 200. For example, system 500 utilizes display 234in communication with processor(s) 234. Processor(s) 234 cause agraphical user interface (GUI) 502 to be displayed to user 256 ondisplay 234. GUI 502 is capable of carrying out multiple functions insystem 500. In its function as a configuration screen, GUI 502 includesgraphical elements for user 256 selection of domains 509 (e.g., music,car, weather, sports, general, home) and graphical elements for user 256selection of virtual assistants 246.

For example, where the virtual assistant 246 is one of a plurality ofvirtual assistants 246 respectively assigned to handle requests 252 fora plurality of respectively assigned domains 509, routing 403 thereceived request to the virtual assistant 246 includes routing 602, bythe processor(s) 243 and using transceiver(s) 238, the received request252 to one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246 respectivelyassigned to handle requests 252 for the determined domain 509. In theexample, method 400 includes receiving 604, by the processor(s) 243 andusing input device(s) (e.g., as input(s) 201 to I/O device(s)),configuration information for assigning at least one domain 509 to behandled by at least one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246. Asshown in FIG. 5, this configuration information may be received 604 byprocessor(s) 243 from user 256 via the GUI 502. In another example, thisconfiguration information is received using an input device other than,or in addition to, GUI 502 (e.g., microphone 202).

In response to receiving 604 the configuration information for assigningat least one domain 509 to be handled by at least one of the pluralityof virtual assistants 246, processor(s) 243 cause this configurationinformation to be stored in memory 240. In this example, method 400includes mapping 606 the at least one domain 509 to the at least one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants based on the received configurationinformation for assigning at least one domain 509 to be handled by atleast one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246. Processor(s) 243cause the result(s) of the mapping 606 to be stored in memory 240.

In an example, the user 256 selects the domain(s) 509 by selecting oneor more of the graphical elements of the GUI 502, which changes thegraphical element's appearance. Simultaneously, user 256 selection ofvirtual assistant(s) 246 by selecting one or more of the correspondinggraphical elements of GUI 502 changes their appearance to signifywhether the virtual assistant 246 can response to the selected domain(s)509. The user 256 then selects the appropriate and/or desired virtualassistant 246 for the selected domain 509. In response to the selectionby the user 256, the graphical element changes appearance to signify tothe user 256 that the domain 509 has been assigned to the appropriateand/or desired virtual assistant 246.

Where the one or more I/O devices may include microphone(s) 202,receiving 401 the request 252 from the user 256 includes receiving 608,by processor(s) 243 and using microphone(s) 202, the request 252 fromthe user 256 as speech. In the example, determining 402 the domain 509for the received request 252 includes determining 610 the domain 509 forthe received request 252 based on information contained in the speech.In another example, determining 402 the domain 509 for the receivedrequest 252 includes mapping 612 the received request 252 to the domain509 based on the information contained in the received request 252.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a process 501 includes the request 252 fromthe user 256 is received 608 by processor(s) 243 as speech. In a block504 of process 501, processor(s) 243 implementing method 400 determine610 the domain 509 for the received request 252 based on informationcontained in the speech by converting 614 the information contained inthe received speech from speech to request text. In the example,determining 610 the domain 509 for the received request 252 based oninformation contained in the speech includes determining 616, by theprocessor(s) 243, the domain 509 for the received request 252 based oninformation contained in the request text.

Upon determining 616 the domain 509 for the received request 252 basedon information contained in the request text, method 400 includestransmitting 618, by the processor(s) 243 in a block 706 of process 501,and using transceiver(s) 238, the request text to the virtual assistant246. The virtual assistant 246 produces a response to the request 252 inthe form of response text and transmits, via network 250, the responsetext back to system 200. In the example, method 400 includes receiving620, by the processor(s) 243 and using transceiver(s) 238, response textfrom the virtual assistant 246. Processor(s) 243 convert 622 theresponse text to response speech for transmitting 404 (e.g., using audioloudspeaker(s) 232) the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, receiving 401 the request 252 from the user256 includes receiving 702 the request 252 as a compound request 252including two or more requests 252 from the user 256. In a block 504 ofprocess 501, processor(s) 243 implementing method 400 determine apresence of the compound request 252 in the received request 252. Inembodiments where the compound request 252 is received 702 from the user256 as speech, method 400 include determining 707, by processor(s) 243in block 504 of process 501, that the received speech includes aplurality of domains 509 based on information contained in the receivedspeech.

In an example, for mapping 612 the received request 252 to the domain509 includes iteratively mapping 704, by processor(s) 243, each of thetwo or more requests 252 to one of the respectively assigned domains509. Routing 403 the received request 252 to the virtual assistant 246includes iteratively routing 706, by processor(s) 243, each of the twoor more requests 252 to the one of the plurality of virtual assistants246 assigned to handle requests 252 for each of the respectivelydetermined 402 domains 509.

In process 501, domain(s) 509 determined 402 by processor(s) 243 inmethod 400 after request(s) 252 received as speech are converted 622 torequest text in block 504 is/are transmitted 618, according to user 256configuration received 604 by processor(s) 243, to the correspondingvirtual assistant(s) 246 in block 706. Where, in block 504, processor(s)243 determine 707 that the received request 252 includes just one domain509, processor(s) 243, in a process 501 block 510, set a domain counterto 1, which in turn causes the one received request 252 to betransmitted 618 to the virtual assistant 246 assigned for the singledomain 509. Where, in block 504, processor(s) 243 determine 707 that thereceived request 252 includes more than one domain 509, processor(s)243, in a process 501 block 512, set the domain counter to a value “nr”that is greater than 1. In this example, the domain counter having thevalue of nr set to >1 causes the two or more received requests 252 to betransmitted 618 to the virtual assistant 246 assigned for thecorresponding two or more domains 509 until the value of the domaincounter reaches 0 (zero).

In an example, receiving 604 the configuration information includesreceiving 708 a designation of a default virtual assistant 248 that isdifferent from the virtual assistant 246. For instance, the defaultvirtual assistant 248 may be a general purpose virtual assistant forproviding a more compact set of functionality and/or data for providingresponses 254 to received requests 252 from user 256. In an embodiment,the data set employed by the default virtual assistant 248 may be storedlocally in memory 240 of system 200 such that processor(s) 243 need notutilize remote communication via network 250 to generate at least alimited response 254 to the user 256 request(s) 252. In anotherembodiment, processor(s) 243 periodically download via network 250, andstore in memory 240, updates to the locally stored default virtualassistant 248 data set. For instance, where network 250 is available forremote communication with one or more virtual assistants 246, system 200processor(s) 243 may determine a geographical location of system 200(e.g., one or more zip codes of the determined location and/or itssurroundings) and then download data pertinent to that location.Processor(s) 243 may further delete data from memory 240 for priorupdates that are no longer likely to be pertinent to user 256 since user256 is no longer location in those prior geographic locations. In thismanner, system 200 memory 240 is utilized efficiently, and in the eventof a failure of network 250 communication capability, user 256 may stillreceive some benefit from the default virtual assistant 248 forresponding to requests 252.

In the example, routing 403 the received request 252 to the virtualassistant 246 includes: transmitting 710, by the processor(s) 243 andusing transceiver(s) 238, the request 252 to the one of the plurality ofvirtual assistants 246, and determining 712, by the processor(s) 243, anavailability of the one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246respectively assigned to handle requests 252 for the determined domain509.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, routing 403 the received request 246 to thevirtual assistant 246 includes determining 712 an availability of theone of the plurality of virtual assistants 246 respectively assigned tohandle requests 252 for the determined domain 509. For instance, theavailability of the virtual assistant(s) 246 may be tied to theavailability of network 250 for remote communication between system 200and the virtual assistant(s) 246.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, where, in a block 505 of process 501,processor(s) 243 determine 712 that the one of the plurality of virtualassistants 246 assigned to handle requests 252 for the determined 402domain 509 is/are available (e.g., no error in network 250communication), then method 400 includes transmitting 802, by theprocessor(s) 243 in block 706 and using transceiver(s) 238, the request252 to the one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246. Inembodiments where the domain counter is set to nr, in a block 514,processor(s) 243 decrement the domain counter as each of the requests252 are transmitted 710 to the respectively assigned virtualassistant(s) 246. In a block 507 of process 501, processor(s) 243determine that the domain counter value has reached 0, and process 501is ended with respect to the respective request(s) 252.

Where, in a block 505 of process 501, processor(s) 243 determine 712that the one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246 assigned tohandle requests 252 for the determined 402 domain 509 is/are notavailable (e.g., an error in network 250 communication exists), thenmethod 400 includes transmitting 804, by the processor(s) 243 in block515, the request 252 to the default virtual assistants 246. Inembodiments where the default virtual assistant 248 is not locallyresident in system 200, processor(s) 243 utilize transceiver(s) 238 totransmit 804 the request 252 to the default assistant 248. Inembodiments where one or more of the requests 252 are to be transmitted804 to the default virtual assistant 248, processor(s) 243, in a process501 block 516, set a value (“NrTrials”) of another domain counter to >1.In this example, the second domain counter having the value of NrTrialsset to >1 causes the two or more received requests 252 to be transmitted804 to the default virtual assistant 248 until the value of NrTrialsreaches 0.

In an example, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246assigned to handle requests 252 for the determined domain 509 is notavailable, then method 400 includes retransmitting 806, by theprocessor(s) 243 and using transceiver(s) 238, for up to a predeterminednumber of iterations stored in memory 240, the request 252 to the one ofthe plurality of virtual assistants 246 until it is determined 712 thatthe one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246 is available. In theexample, if the one of the plurality of virtual assistants 246 assignedto handle requests 252 for the determined 402 domain 509 is notavailable, method 400 includes transmitting 804, by the processor(s)243, the request 252 to the default virtual assistant 248.

In an example, method 400 includes determining 808, by the processor(s)243, an availability of the default virtual assistant 248 to handle therequest 252. In the example, where, in a block 506, processor(s) 243determine that the default virtual assistant 248 is not available,method 400 includes retransmitting 810, by the processor(s) 243, for upto a predetermined number of iterations stored in memory 240, therequest 252 to the default virtual assistant 248 until it is determined808 that the default virtual assistant 248 is available. In the example,if, after the predetermined number of iterations, the default virtualassistant 248 is not available, method 400 may include transmitting 812,by the processor(s) 243, a message to the user 256 indicating that novirtual assistants (246, 248) are available for processing requests 252.

In an example, if one or more of the virtual assistants 246 and/or thedefault virtual assistant 248 is/are not available, then method 400includes retransmitting (806 and/or 810), by the processor(s) 243, aftera predetermined period of time stored in memory 240 has elapsed, therequest 252 to the one or more of the virtual assistants 246 and/or thedefault virtual assistant 248 until it is determined (712, 808) that theone of more virtual assistants 246 and/or the default virtual assistant248 is/are available. In the example, method 400 may includetransmitting 816 a message to the user 256 indicating that a reattemptto transmit (802 and/or 804) the request to the one or more of thevirtual assistants 246 and/or the default virtual assistant 248 will bemade after the predetermined period of time stored in memory 240 haselapsed.

In an example, one or more messages transmitted (812 and/or 816) to theuser 256 may be transmitted (812 and/or 816) as text and/or as audiblespeech to the user 256. Where the one or more messages is/aretransmitted (812 and/or 816) to the user 256 as text, the text of theone or more messages may be transmitted (812 and/or 816) to the user 256via a display screen 234, which may include the GUI 502.

Where the virtual assistant(s) 246 are determined to be unavailable(e.g., due to network 250 unavailability, missing results, and/ortimeout) for any of the received request(s) 252, the correspondingrequest(s) 252 is/are sent to the default assistant 248 regardless ofthe selection of the assigned virtual assistant(s) 246 by theaforementioned user 256 configuration received 604. In cases where thedefault virtual assistant 248 is determined to be unavailable (e.g., dueto network 250 unavailability, missing results, and/or timeout) for anyof the received request(s) 252, a retrial routine by the processor(s)243 triggers the repetition of the request 252 in case of unavailabilityof the virtual assistant(s) 246 and/or the default virtual assistant248. The loop starts again by sending the next request 252 to thecorresponding virtual assistant 246 corresponding to the received 604user 256 configuration information, and as directed by processor(s) 243based on the status of the two counters described above.

FIG. 9 is block diagram of one aspect of a system 900 for processingrequests 252 from users 256 of an infotainment system (e.g., system200). FIG. 10 is a flow chart of exemplary aspects of method 400according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to FIGS.1-10, system 900 may be a subsystem of system 200 and may beimplemented, at least in part by system 200. System 900 utilizes the oneor more I/O devices of system 200. For example, system 900 utilizesmicrophone(s) 202 in communication with processor(s) 243.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, method 400 includes determining 1002, bythe processor(s) 243, a spoken language of the user 256 based on thereceived speech of the user 256. In an example, user 256 speech isutilized as a voice input to a language identification module 902 ofsystem 900. In the example, method 400 includes identifying 1004, by theprocessor(s) 243 and using the language identification module 902, thespoken language based on information contained in the received speech(e.g., English versus Japanese, French versus Chinese, etc.).

In the example, method 400 includes storing 1006 the determined 1002spoken language(s) 902 for respective user(s) 256 in memory 240according to the identity of the user 256 for whom the spoken languagewas identified 1004. Determined 1002 spoken languages 902 (e.g.,language 1, language 2, . . . , language N) for respective user(s) 256are stored 1006 in memory 240 according to a data structure 906.

In an example, system 900 provides a text-to-speech prompter service 908for enabling processor(s) 243 to select and utilize a language model 910according to the determined 1002 spoken language 902. In the example,method 400 includes selecting 1008, by the processor(s) 243, thelanguage model 910 based on the determined 1002 spoken language 908. Inresponse, processor(s) 243 utilize the selected 1008 language model 910for performing those aspects of method 400 described herein whichutilize and/or rely on speech and/or text conversion, recognition,parsing, and/or communication.

In the example, transmitting 404 the response 254 to the request 252 tothe user 256 includes transmitting 1010, by the processor(s) 243, theresponse 254 to the user 256 in the determined 1002 spoken language.Similarly, method 400 may include transmitting 1012 any of the one ormore messages in steps 812 and/or 816 as text and/or speech in thedetermined 1002 spoken language.

In an example, method 400 includes receiving 1014, by the processor(s)243, configuration information for an audible speech response style fortransmitting 404 the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256.The response style received 1014 for transmitting 404 the response 254to the request 252 to the user 256 may include a voice gender, a volume,a spoken language, and a speech rate (e.g., words per minute). In theexample, method 400 includes storing 1016 this received 1014configuration information in memory 240. In the example, transmitting404 the response 254 to the user 256 includes transmitting 1018 theresponse to the user 256 in the received 1014 and/or stored 1016response style.

FIG. 11 is block diagram of one aspect of a system 1100 for processingrequests 252 from users 256 of an infotainment system (e.g., system200). FIG. 12 is a flow chart of exemplary aspects of method 400according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to FIGS.1-12, system 1100 may be a subsystem of system 200 and may beimplemented, at least in part by system 200. System 1100 utilizes theone or more I/O devices of system 200. For example, system 1100 utilizesmicrophone(s) 202 in communication with processor(s) 243. The user 256may include one or more users 256 of the infotainment system (e.g.,system 200).

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, method 400 includes storing 1202, by theprocessor(s) 243, recorded audio of the received speech of the user(s)256 in memory 240. In one example, to store 1202 the recorded audio ofthe received speech, in blocks 1102 and 1104, processor(s) 243 create1225 an audio archive file from the recorded audio and store 1206 therecorded audio of the received speech of one or more requests 252received from the one or more users 256 in memory 240. In anotherexample, to store 1202 the recorded audio of the received speech, in ablock 1106, processor(s) 243 create 1225 an audio archive file from therecorded audio and store 1224 the recorded audio of speech sample(s) ofthe user(s) 256 in memory 240. The speech sample may include one or morefixed sentences for which user(s) 256 is/are prompted to pronounce intheir desired spoken language. The one or more fixed sentences may bepredetermined by system 200 user(s) 256 and/or designer(s), and storedin memory 240. The recorded audio of the speech sample(s) and/or of therequest(s) of the user(s) 256 is stored (1206 and/or 1224) in memory 240as an audio archive file.

Method 400 includes transmitting 1204, by processor(s) 243 in a system1100 block 1108, and using transceiver(s) 238, the archive audio file ofthe stored 1202 audio to a text-to-speech (TTS) engine 1110 (e.g.,running on a voice personalization server) for voice model generation(e.g., Acapela®, resident on a voice personalization server accessibleto system 200 via network 150 and/or resident in system 200 as anembedded version). In one embodiment, method 400 includes determining1208, by processor(s) 243, a file size of the stored 1202 audio. In anexample, to determine 1208 the file size of the stored 1202 audio,processor(s) 243 determine 1210 a duration of the stored 1202 audio. Inthe example, the file size of the stored 1202 audio is determined 1208based on the determined 1210 duration of the stored 1202 audio. Forinstance, the determined 1210 duration of the stored 1202

In an example, determining 1208 the file size of the stored 1202 audioincludes utilizing a logic operation 1224 to determine if the file sizeof the stored 1202 audio is greater than (or greater than or equal to) apredetermined file size value stored in memory 240. In the example,transmitting 1204 the stored 1202 audio to the TTS engine 1110 includestransmitting 1204 the stored 1202 audio to the TTS engine 1110 (e.g.,running on a voice personalization server) in response to the stored1202 audio exceeding (or attaining) the predetermined file size valuestored in memory 240.

In another embodiment, method 400 includes transmitting 1212, by theprocessor(s) 243, a message to the user 256 requesting a user permissionstatus to transmit 1204 the stored 1202 audio (e.g., archive audiofile(s) for the stored 1206 received speech of the request(s) 252 and/orfiles for the stored 1224 speech sample) to the TTS engine 1110 (e.g.,running on a voice personalization server). In an example, in a system1100 block 1112, processor(s) 243 transmit 1212 user permission statusrequest message(s) to user(s) 256 using display(s) 234, GUIs 502, and/oraudio loudspeaker(s) 232. In the embodiment, method 400 includesreceiving 1214 the user permission status from the user(s) 256 for whomthe recorded audio was stored 1202.

In an example, processor(s) 243 utilize a logic operation 1224 (e.g., ina block 1112 of system 1100) to determine if an affirmative userpermission status is received 1214. In the example, if processor(s) 243determine that an affirmative user permission status is not received1214 (or a negative user permission status is received 1214) fromuser(s) 256, method 400 includes deleting 1222, by processor(s) 243(e.g., in a system 1100 block 1114) the stored 1202 audio of the user(s)256 for whom the recorded audio of the request 252 received as speech,and/or the recorded audio of the speech sample, was stored 1202 frommemory 240.

In the example, if processor(s) 243 utilizing logic operation 1224determined that an affirmative user permission status is received 1214,method 400 includes transmitting 1204, by processor(s) 243 and usingtransceiver(s) 238, the stored 1202 audio to the TTS engine 1110 (e.g.,running on a voice personalization server) for voice model generation.Following the voice model being generated by the TTS engine 1110, method400 includes receiving 1218, by processor(s) 243 (e.g., in a system 1100block 1116) and using transceiver(s) 238, the generated voice model fromthe TTS engine 1110 (e.g., running on a voice personalization server),and storing 1220, by the processor(s) 243, the received 1218 voice modelin memory 240. In an example, processor(s) 243 utilize a system 1100block 1118 to store 1220 the received 1218 voice model in memory 240according to a user identity of the user 256 for whom the recorded audioof the request 252 received as speech was stored 1202 (e.g., in a likemanner as shown and described with respect to the data structure 906 ofFIG. 9). In an embodiment, system 1100 includes a block 1120 forfacilitating processor(s) 243 handling errors with respect to thetransmitting 1204, receiving 1218, and/or storing 1220 processesdescribed above for method 400.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of one aspect of a system 1300 for processingrequests 252 from users 256 of an infotainment system (e.g., system200). FIGS. 14A-16 are flow charts of exemplary aspects of method 400according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to FIGS.1-16, system 1300 may be a subsystem of system 200 and may beimplemented, at least in part by system 200. System 1300 utilizes theone or more I/O devices of system 200. For example, system 1300 utilizesmicrophone(s) 202 and audio loudspeaker(s) 232 in communication withprocessor(s) 243. The user 256 may include one or more users 256 of theinfotainment system (e.g., system 200).

The embodiments shown and described herein provide a new and improvedmethodology and system architecture for presenting speech feedback froma speech recognition application in an environment (e.g., automobile)for infotainment system operations and interactions by users. Inoperation, the user experience of multi-user, concurrent operation ofspeech recognition applications is improved as compared to known systemsand methods.

In cases where one or more vehicle passengers using a speech recognitionapplication on the infotainment system, any auditory feedback from thespeech application is played only in the audio zone in the passengersinvoking the speech recognition application is seated. Additionally, anyspeech-based feedback from the speech application is synthesized usingthe identified language spoken by the user.

In cases where multiple vehicle passengers using a speech recognitionapplication on the infotainment system concurrently, simultaneouslyand/or consecutively, auditory feedback (e.g., responses 254 to user 256requests 252) are presented according to schemes such as: (a) from amongthe several spoken voice commands (e.g., requests 252), the infotainmentsystem answers each of the voice commands in a first in-first out(FIFO), a last in-first out (LIFO), or shortest response time fashion(e.g., based on respectively determined processing times for each of therequests 252); FIFO, LIFO or shortest response time style may beselectable by user(s) ahead of time; (b) for each voice command receivedsimultaneously, the infotainment system precedes the response byspeaking, using text-to-speech (TTS), the name of the user who issuedthe voice command, or the name of the audio zone (e.g., “rear leftuser”, “driver”, “front passenger”, etc.); and (c) for each voicecommand received simultaneously, the infotainment system precedes theresponse by speaking, using TTS, a rephrased version of the voicecommand. In the disclosure, “response time” is used synonymously with“processing time” and “computation time,” and refers to an amount oftime it takes for a user 256 to receive a response 254 to their request252.

One or multiple users' 256 speech is captured by a plurality ofmicrophones 202. The raw speech signal is processed by a speech signalseparator processing block 1306, which separates the multi-user speechsignal into individual speech signals 1308 containing the recordedspeech of each user in the vehicle. The speech signal separator 1306 isalso responsible for calculating the time of arrival of each speechsignal 1308 (e.g., corresponding to users 256 who spoke first) and theduration of each speech signal (how long they spoke for); these valuesare used for later use as input to the response manager 1322. Theindividual speech signals 1308 are each passed through a speechlocalizer processing block 1310, which identifies the position source ofeach speech signal 1308 relative to the vehicle cabin (e.g., driver,front passenger, rear left passenger, rear right passenger, etc.). Theposition of each speech signal 1308 is stored for later use as input tothe response manager 1322. The individual speech signals 1308 are thenpassed through a speaker identifier processing block 1312, whichidentifies the speaking user's voice against a set of pre-registereduser profiles (e.g., Bob, Cindy, Tina, Larry, Guest, etc.). The profilename associated with each speech signal 1308 is stored for later use asinput to the response manager 1322. The individual speech signals 1308are then passed through a language identifier processing block 1314,which identifies the spoken language. The spoken language associatedwith each speech signal 1308 is stored for later use as input to boththe virtual assistant router 1316 and the response manager 1322. Theindividual speech signals 1308 are then passed to an instance of thespeech application 1318 within the virtual assistant router 1316. Eachinstance of the speech application 1318 converts the individual speechsignals 1308 into text (e.g., “What's the weather in San Diego,Calif.?”). Each instance of the speech application 1318 uses theidentified language from the individual speech signal 1308 to selectwhich language the speech application 1318 should use for presentingfeedback to the user 256. The speech application instance 1318 generatesa text response 1320 in the identified language, according to its owndialogue logic. The speech application 1318 instance also generates arephrased version of each speech signal's 1308 command (e.g., request252) (“weather in San Diego, Calif.”), as well as the response time forthe speech command 1308. The text response is sent to the responsemanager 1322. The response manager 1322 converts the text response intoa synthesized speech signal 1325 and plays the response 254 using thevehicle's audio system (e.g., audio loudspeakers 232).

The inputs to the response manager are, or include: 1) time of arrivalof each speech signal 1308; 2) duration of each speech signal 1308; 3)source position of each speech signal 1308; 4) profile name associatedfor the source position; 5) identified spoken language; and 6) responsestyle (e.g., as determined by a user setting).

For each speech command and/or request 252 spoken 1318 concurrently,simultaneously and/or consecutively by a plurality of users 256, theresponse manager 1322 presents the synthesized speech signal 1325 forthe feedback and/or response 254 according to a unique pattern. First,the response manager 1322 determines the sequence (“Response Style”) ofpresenting the speech feedback/response 254. In the case of FIFOresponse style, a speech input request 252 whose arrival time was first,as determined by the speech signal separator 1306, is responded tofirst. Then, the next speech input request 252 whose arrival time wassecond, relative to the speech input request 252 whose arrival time wasfirst, or computation time was second fastest, relative to the speechinput request 252 whose computational time was first, is responded tonext, and so on. In the case of LIFO, the speech input request 252 whosearrival time was last, as determined by the speech signal separator1306, is responded to first. Then, the next most recent speech inputrequest 252 whose arrival was second before last, relative to the speechinput request 252 whose arrival time was last, is responded to, and soon. Alternatively, the speech input request 252 whose computation timewas shortest is responded to first.

After determining the sequence of presentation of speechfeedback/response 254, the response manager 1322 prepends the profilename of the user 256 (e.g., John) who spoke the command/request 252originally, to the text response 1320. After appending the profile name,the response manager 1322 appends a rephrased version of the speechcommand after the profile name (e.g., John), but before any additionaltext response 1320. Afterward, the response manager 1322 plays theappropriate response using the vehicle's audio system (e.g., audioloudspeakers 232), using only the loudspeaker(s) 232 proximate to theuser 256.

The following two tables illustrate example use cases according to someof the disclosed embodiments:

Vehicle seating Spoken commands Speech signal Response configuration:uttered simultaneously: time of arrival Time John (driver) “What's theweather n sec  0.5 sec in San Diego California?” Mary (front “Change thetemperature n + 1 sec 0.75 sec passgr.) to 68 degrees” Dave (rear “Playthe Beatles” n + 2 sec  0.1 sec left passgr.) Guest (rear “In what yearn + 3 sec  1.5 sec right pasgrs.) did the Beatles release their laststudio album?”

System Response System Response System Response (shortest (FIFO) (LIFO)response time) (spoken over driver (spoken over rear right (spoken overloudspeakers) passgr. loudspeakers) rear left passgr. “John, you “Rearright guest, you loudspeakers) asked about wanted to know when “Dave,you the weather the last studio album wanted to play in San Diego, wasreleased by the the Beatles, I'll it's 68 and Beatles, it was add Rubbersunny” Let it Be, in 1970” Soul to the playlist” (spoken over. (spokenover (spoken front passgr. rear left passgr. over driver loudspeakers)loudspeakers) loudspeakers) “Mary, you want “Dave, you “John, you askedthe temperature wanted to play about the weather changed to 68, theBeatles, I'll in San Diego, I'll go ahead add Rubber Soul it's 68 andand do that” to the playlist” sunny” (spoken over (spoken over (spokenover rear left passgr. front passgr. front passgr. loudspeakers)loudspeakers) loudspeakers) “Dave, you “Mary, you want “Mary, you wantedto play the temperature want the temperature the Beatles, I'll changedto 68, changed to add Rubber Soul I'll go ahead 68, I'll go ahead to theplaylist” and do that” and do that” (spoken over rear (spoken overdriver (spoken over rear right right passgr. loudspeakers) passgr.loudspeakers) loudspeakers) “John, you asked “Rear right guest, “Rearright guest, about the weather you wanted to you wanted to know in SanDiego, know when the last when the last studio it's 68 and sunny” studioalbum was album was released released by the by the Beatles, it wasBeatles, it was Let it Be, in 1970” Let it Be, in 1970”

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14A and 14B, in an example, receiving 401 therequest 252 in method 400 includes receiving 1402, by the processor(s)243 and using, for example, microphone(s) 202, a plurality of requests252 from a plurality of users 256 of the infotainment system (e.g.,system 200). In an embodiment, the plurality of requests 252 arereceived 1402 concurrently. In another embodiment, the plurality ofrequests 252 are received consecutively. In the example, each of theplurality of users 256 are positioned in a plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones. For instance, a first user 256 isseated in a driver's seat of a car, a second user 256 is seated in afront passenger seat of the car, and a third user 256 is seated in arear passenger seat of the car. System 1300 includes a plurality ofmicrophones 202, and at least one microphone 202 of the plurality ofmicrophones 202 is positioned in each of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones (e.g., of the car). In the example, eachmicrophone 202 is conveniently accessible by a respective user 256 ofthe plurality of users 256 for purposes as system 200 input 201.

In the example, the request 252 received 401 as speech may include amulti-user speech signal 1302 input via the microphones 202 to an audioinput subsystem block 1304 of system 1300. From block 1304, themulti-user speech signal 1302 is relayed or otherwise transmitted byprocessor(s) 243 to a speech separator block 1306 of system 1300. In theexample, method 400 includes separating 1404, by the processor(s) 243and using, for instance, block 1306, the multi-user speech signal 1302into a plurality of individual speech signals 1303. Each of theplurality of individual speech signals 1303 correspond to a respectivereceived 401 request 252 for each of the plurality of users 256. Each ofthe plurality of individual speech signals 1303 are illustrated in FIG.13 as speech signal blocks 1310 for users 256 (e.g., 1, 2, . . . , N).Each of the plurality of individual speech signals 1303 includes theinformation contained in the respectively received 401 request 252.

In an example, method 400 includes determining 1408, by the processor(s)243 using, for instance, block 1306 of system 1300, a time of arrival(TOA) for each of the plurality of individual speech signals 1303. Inthe example, method 400 includes determining 1410, by the processor(s)243 using, for instance, block 1306, a rank order of the determined 1408TOAs.

In an example, for each of the plurality of individual speech signals1303, method 400 includes determining 1418, by the processor(s) 243 andusing, for instance, block 1306 of system 1300, a processing time fordetermining 402 the domain 509 for the received request 252 based on theinformation contained in the received 401 request 252. In the example,method 400 includes determining 1420, by the processor(s) 243 using, forinstance, block 1306, a rank order of determined 1418 processing times.

In an example, the method 400 step of transmitting 404 the response 254to the request 252 to the user 256 includes iteratively transmitting1406, by the processor(s) 243 in, for instance, the virtual assistantroute block 1316 of system 1300, and using, for instance, audioloudspeaker(s) 232, a plurality of responses 254 to each of theplurality of requests 252. In the virtual assistant router block 1316 ofsystem 1300, processor(s) 243 iteratively determine (e.g., perform thedetermining 402 step of method 400 iteratively for each of the pluralityof requests 252) and iteratively route (e.g., perform the routing 403step of method 400 iteratively for each of the plurality of requests252).

In an example, processor(s) 243 determine a respective domain 509 foreach of the plurality of requests 252 based on the information containedin each individual speech signal 1303. Thus, for each of the pluralityof individual speech signals 1303, processor(s) 243 use transceiver(s)238 in respective instances of blocks 1318 and 1320 (e.g., 1, 2, . . . ,N), route 403 each request 252 and receive and transmit 404 (e.g., inresponse manager 1322 and audio output subsystem 1324 blocks)corresponding responses 254 to one or more audio loudspeaker(s) 232. Inone embodiment, the functionality processor(s) 243 implement orotherwise facilitate in block 1316 is or includes the processes shownand described above with respect to FIGS. 5-8.

In one embodiment, iteratively transmitting 1406 the plurality ofresponses 254 includes first transmitting 1412, by the processor(s) 243using audio loudspeaker(s) 232, one of the plurality of responses 254having the least determined 1408 TOA. Alternatively, in the embodiment,iteratively transmitting 1406 the plurality of responses 254 includesfirst transmitting 1413, by processor(s) 243 using loudspeaker(s) 232,one of the plurality of responses 254 having the greatest determined1408 TOA Likewise, in the embodiment, the processor(s) 243 mayiteratively transmit 1406 the plurality of responses 254 according toeither an ascending order of determined 1408 TOAs, or a descending orderof determined 1408 TOAs.

In another embodiment, iteratively transmitting 1406 the plurality ofresponses 254 includes first transmitting 1415, by the processor(s) 243using, for instance, audio loudspeaker(s) 232, one of the plurality ofresponses 254 having the least determined 1418 processing time.Alternatively, in the embodiment, iteratively transmitting 1406 theplurality of responses 254 includes first transmitting 1417, byprocessor(s) 243 using loudspeaker(s) 232, one of the plurality ofresponses 254 having the greatest determined 1418 processing time.Likewise, in the embodiment, the processor(s) 243 may iterativelytransmit 1406 the plurality of responses 254 according to either anascending order of determined 1418 processing times, or a descendingorder of determined 1418 processing times.

In an example, method 400 includes receiving 1414, by processor(s) 243and using, for instance, GUI 502, configuration information forprioritizing iteratively transmitting 1406 the plurality of responses254 to each of the plurality of requests 252 according to the determined1408 TOAs and/or determined 1418 processing times. In the example,method 400 includes storing 1416, by the processor(s) 243 and in memory240, the configuration information for prioritizing iterativelytransmitting 1406 the plurality of responses 254. The receivedconfiguration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting 1406the responses 254 to the requests 252 directs processor(s) 243 toiteratively transmit 1406 the responses 254 (e.g., via loudspeaker(s)232) to requests 252 using as priority ordering for this transmitting1406 the respectively determined (1408 and/or 1418) TOAs and/orprocessing times, but not to direct processor(s) 243 to sequence ofotherwise give priority to specific virtual assistant(s) 246 from amonga plurality of the same.

In one embodiment, the received 1414 and/or stored 1416 configurationinformation specifies or otherwise directs processor(s) 243 toiteratively transmit 1406 the plurality of responses 254 according toeither the descending order of determined 1408 TOAs or the ascendingorder of determined 1408 TOAs. In another embodiment, the received 1414and/or stored 1416 configuration information specifies or otherwisedirects processor(s) 243 to iteratively transmit 1406 the plurality ofresponses 254 according to either the descending order of determined1418 processing times or the ascending order of determined 1418processing times.

In an example, the method 400 step of receiving 1414 and storing 1416the configuration information for prioritizing iteratively transmitting1406 to plurality of responses 254 includes receiving 1420 and storing1416, by the processor(s) 243 and using, for instance, GUI 502, a userpriority scheme for prioritizing iteratively transmitting 1406 theplurality of responses 254. The user priority scheme specifies orotherwise directs processor(s) 243 to iteratively transmit 1406 a firstresponse 254 of the plurality of responses 254 to a first user 256 ofthe plurality of users 256 before iteratively transmitting 1406 at leasta second response 254 to at least a second user 256. In one embodiment,the user priority scheme operates in the iteratively transmitting 1406step of method 400 instead of, or in addition to, iterativelytransmitting 1406 the plurality of responses according to determined1408 TOAs and/or determined 1418 processing times. Thus, wherein theuser priority scheme is received 1414 and/or stored 1416, iterativelytransmitting 1406 the plurality of responses 254 includes iterativelytransmitting 1419, by processor(s) 243 using loudspeaker(s) 232, theplurality of responses 254 according to the user priority scheme.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 15, method 400 includes determining 1524, bythe processor(s) 243 using, for instance, the speech localizer block1310 of system 1300, a respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where one or more of the pluralityof requests 252 originated. In one embodiment, determining 1524 therespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones fromwhere the request(s) 252 originated includes comparing 1528, by theprocessor(s) 243, amplitudes of received signals in the multi-userspeech signal 1302. In the embodiment, processor(s) 243 may concurrentlyreceive 401 one of the request(s) 252 via two or more microphones 202,and the microphone 202 providing a greatest speech signal amplitude maycorrespond to the respective one of the plurality of spatially-separatedaudio zones from where the request(s) 252 originated.

In another embodiment, determining 1524 the respective one of theplurality of spatially-separated audio zones from where the request(s)252 originated includes use of beamforming to compute 1531 the audiozone. In yet another embodiment, determining 1524 the respective one ofthe plurality of spatially-separated audio zones from where therequest(s) 252 originated includes comparing 1530, by the processor(s)243, TOAs of received signals in the multi-user speech signal 1302. Inthe embodiment, processor(s) 243 may concurrently or consecutivelyreceive 401 one of the request(s) 252 via two or more microphones 202,and the microphone 202 providing a signal having the least determined1408 TOA may correspond to the respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones from where the request(s) 252originated. In yet another embodiment, determining 1524 the respectiveone of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones from where therequest(s) 252 originated includes both of the above described comparingsteps (1528 and 1530). In still another embodiment, determining 1524 therespective one of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones fromwhere the request(s) 252 originated includes any combination of thecomparing 1528, beamforming 1531, and comparing 1530 steps.

In an example, the I/O device(s) include a plurality of audioloudspeakers 232, and at least two of the plurality ofspatially-isolated audio zones includes a respective one or moreloudspeaker(s) 232. In the example, the method 400 step of transmitting404 the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256 includestransmitting 1532, by the processor(s) 243, each of the plurality ofresponses 254 to the respective one or more loudspeaker(s) 232 accordingto the determined 1524 respective one or more of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones.

In another example, each of the plurality of spatially-isolated audiozones includes a respective one or more audio loudspeakers 232 of theplurality of loudspeakers 232. In the example, the method 400 step oftransmitting 404 the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256includes transmitting 1532, by the processor(s) 243, each of theplurality of responses 254 to the respective one or more loudspeakers232 according to the determined 1524 respective one of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones.

In an example, method 400 includes determining 1534, by the processor(s)243 in, for instance, system 1300 block 1310, an identity of each of theplurality of spatially-separated audio zones from where the one or moreof the plurality of requests 252 originated. In one embodiment,determining 1534 the identity of the each of the plurality ofspatially-separated audio zones includes comparing 1536, by theprocessor(s) 243, each of the plurality of spatially-separated audiozones from where the one or more requests 252 originated to one or morepre-registered audio zone profiles stored in memory 240. In anotherembodiment, determining 1534 the identity of the each of the pluralityof spatially-separated audio zones includes reading, by the processor(s)243, identifying information encoded in signals received 401 fromrespective microphones 202. In the embodiment, each of the plurality ofmicrophones 202 may transmit a unique piece of identifying informationalong with the audio signal of the request 252. For instance, along withtransmitting the audio signal of the request 252, each of the pluralityof microphones 202 may also transmit data in the form of anidentification number or other alphanumeric string as, for example, andwithout limitation, as a header. In the embodiment, determining 1534 theidentity of the each of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zonesincludes comparing, by processor(s) 243, the read identifyinginformation to corresponding microphone 202 identifying informationstored in memory 240. In this manner, processor(s) 243 determine 1534the identity of the each of the plurality of spatially-separated audiozones based on the read identifying information for the respectivemicrophone 202.

In an example, method 400 includes receiving 1538, by processor(s) 243and using, for instance, GUI 502, configuration information forregistering audio zone profile(s) for one or more of the plurality ofspatially-separated zones; and store 1540 this configuration informationin memory 240. In the example, method 400 includes storing 1540 thisconfiguration information for registering audio zone profile(s) inmemory 240. The audio zone profile(s) include a name and/or a locationfor the one or more of the plurality of spatially-separated audio zones.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 16, method 400 includes determining 1606, bythe processor(s) 243 in, for instance, the speaker identifier block 1312of system 1300, an identity of each of the plurality of users 256 fromwhom the one or more of the plurality of requests 252 originated. In oneembodiment, processor(s) 243 determine 1606 the identity of each of theplurality of users 256 based on information contained in the pluralityof individual speech signals 1303. In the embodiment, determining 1606the identity of each of the plurality of users 256 includes comparing1608 each of the plurality of users 256 from whom the one or more of theplurality of requests 252 originated to one or more pre-registered userprofiles stored in memory 240. In another embodiment, determining 1606the identity of each of the plurality of users 256 includes reading, bythe processor(s) 243, each of the individual speech signals 1303 andcomparing, by processor(s) 243, the read signals 1303 to user 256 speechprofiles stored in memory 240. In this manner, processor(s) 243determine 1606 the identity of the each of the plurality of users 256based on the read signals 1303 received 401 from the respectivemicrophone(s) 202.

In an example, method 400 includes receiving 1610, by processor(s) 243and using, for instance, GUI 502, configuration information forregistering user profile(s) for one or more users 256 of theinfotainment system (e.g., system 200). In the example, method 400includes storing 1611, by the processor(s) 243, the configurationinformation for registering user profile(s) in memory 240. The userprofile(s) include at least one of a first name, a last name, anickname, and a title, for the one or more users 256.

In the language identifier block 1314 of system 1300, processor(s) 243determine the spoken language for each of the plurality of individualspeech signals 1303. In an example, processor(s) 243 determine thespoken language for each individual speech signal 1303 based on theinformation contained in each individual speech signal 1303. In oneembodiment, the functionality processor(s) 243 implement or otherwisefacilitate in block 1314 is or includes the processes shown anddescribed above with respect to FIGS. 9-12.

In one example, method 400 includes prepending 1602, by the processor(s)243 in, for instance, the response manager block 1322 of system 1300, aname of a respectively determined 1534 audio zone identity to each ofthe plurality of responses 254. In the example, the method 400 step oftransmitting 404 the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256includes transmitting 1604, by processor(s) 243 using audioloudspeaker(s) 232, the name of the respectively determined 1534 audiozone identity prior to transmitting 404 the response 252.

In another example, method 400 includes prepending 1612 by processor(s)243 in, for instance, response manager block 1322, a name of arespectively determined 1606 user identity to each of the plurality ofresponses 252. In the example, the method 400 step of transmitting 404the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256 includestransmitting 1614, by processor(s) 243 using loudspeaker(s) 232, thename of the respectively determined 1606 user identity prior totransmitting 404 the response 252.

In yet another example, method 400 includes prepending 1616 byprocessor(s) 243 in, for instance, response manager block 1322, both thename of the respectively determined 1606 user identity and the name ofthe respectively determined 1534 audio zone identity, to each of theplurality of responses 252. In the example, the method 400 step oftransmitting 404 the response 254 to the request 252 to the user 256includes transmitting, by processor(s) 243 in, for instance, responsemanager block 1322, both the name of the respectively determined 1606user identity and the name of the respectively determined 1534 audiozone identity, prior to transmitting 404 the response 252.

In still another example, method 400 includes rephrasing 1618, byprocessor(s) 243 in, for instance, response manager block 1322, thereceived 401 request 252. In the example, rephrasing 1618 the request252 includes determining 1620, by processor(s) 243 in, for instance,block 1322, a rephrased request 252 based on the information containedin the request 252 and/or based on information contained in therespective individual speech signal 1303.

In one embodiment, method 400 includes prepending 1622, by theprocessor(s) 243 in, for instance, block 1322, the rephrased request 252to the response 254 to the request 242. In one example, the method 400step of transmitting 404 the response 254 to the request 252 to the user256 includes transmitting 1624 the rephrased request 252 prior totransmitting 404 the response 254 to the received 401 request 252. Inanother example, the method 400 step of transmitting 404 the response254 to the request 252 to the user 256 includes transmitting therephrased request 252 and transmitting one or more of the respectivelydetermined 1606 user identity and the name of the respectivelydetermined 1534 audio zone identity, prior to transmitting 404 theresponse 254 to the received 401 request 252.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a processing system 1702 according to oneembodiment. The processing system can be used to implement the systemsdescribed above. The processing system includes at least one processor1704, such as a central processing unit (CPU) of the computing device ora dedicated special-purpose infotainment processor, executes computerexecutable instructions comprising embodiments of the system forperforming the functions and methods described above. In embodiments,the computer executable instructions are locally stored and accessedfrom a non-transitory computer readable medium, such as storage 1710,which may be a hard drive or flash drive. Read Only Memory (ROM) 1706includes computer executable instructions for initializing the processor1704, while the Random Access Memory (RAM) 1708 is the main memory forloading and processing instructions executed by the processor 1704. Thenetwork interface 1712 may connect to a cellular network or mayinterface with a smartphone or other device over a wired or wirelessconnection. The smartphone or other device can then provide theprocessing system with internet or other network access. Devices (1704,1706, 1708, 1710, and 1712) of processing system 1702 are operablycoupled in electric power and/or data communication with one another viaat least one bus 1714.

The above-described systems, methods and software for virtual assistantrouting provide a new and improved methodology and system architecturefor processing and routing virtual assistant requests and responsesthereto. Users of the systems, methods and software disclosed herein areprovided with a more comfortable, user-friendly, responsive, and safeinterface for making virtual assistant requests and receiving prompt andaccurate responses from pertinent and reliable sources of information.Technical effects and user advantages such as these may be enjoyed ineither single- or multi-user contexts, including vehicles such asautomobiles. In environments such as driving or riding in an automobile,user(s) operating and/or otherwise interacting with the infotainmentsystems and related methods and software described above are providedwith convenient and effective information and/or fulfillment of theirvarious requests in manner that is less prone to cause undue distractionand discomfort for the driver, and thus safety and comfort of allvehicle occupants is significantly enhanced.

These and other substantial and numerous technical benefits andbeneficial effects appreciable to persons of ordinary skill in the artare especially evident as compared to known systems and methods inapplications involving virtual assistant routing. These improvementsover known systems and methods are not accomplished by merely utilizingconventional and routine processing systems and methods. Even in caseswhere such improvements may be quantified in terms of request processingtimes, network communication speed and similar measures, over relevanttime periods (e.g., from hours to years) and as compared to knownprocesses, the disclosed systems and methods for virtual assistantrouting utilize computing, network, memory, electric power, personnel,among other, resources at significantly greater efficiencies to provideimproved user experiences in a wide variety of use environments.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” andsimilar referents in the context of describing the invention (especiallyin the context of the following claims) are to be construed to coverboth the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein orclearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one”followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of Aand B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listeditems (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (Aand B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

The various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in theillustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed aslimiting of the present disclosure.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may becontemplated by the modification of the disclosed devices, systems,software, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope ofwhat is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall withinthe scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claimsand any equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing requests from users of aninfotainment system, comprising: receiving a request from a user of theinfotainment system, wherein receiving the request comprises receivingthe request from the user as speech and receiving the request furthercomprises receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality of users ofthe infotainment system as a multi-user speech signal; separating themulti-user speech signal into a plurality of individual speech signalsfor each of the plurality of users; determining a domain for thereceived request based on information contained in the received request,the domain specifying one or more categories for the request, whereindetermining the domain for the received request comprises determiningthe domain for the received request based on information contained inthe speech; routing the received request to a virtual assistant assignedto handle requests for the determined domain, wherein the virtualassistant is one of a plurality of virtual assistants respectivelyassigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectively assigneddomains; and iteratively transmitting the responses to the requestscomprising: determining a priority for the requests according to a userpriority scheme for processing the requests; and transmitting eachresponse according to the priority for the requests.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising identifying a spoken language for eachrequest based on the information contained in the speech signal for therequest, and wherein the user priority scheme prioritizes the requestsbased on the identified spoken language of the requests.
 3. The methodof claim 1 further comprising identifying a position of the user, andwherein the user priority scheme prioritizes the requests based on theposition of the user.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the position ofthe user is one of a plurality of spatially separated audio zones. 5.The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an identity of eachof the plurality of users from whom one or more of the plurality ofrequests originated, and wherein the user priority scheme prioritizesthe requests based on the identity of the user.
 6. The method of claim 1wherein the user priority scheme prioritizes the requests based on thedomain for the request.
 7. A method for processing requests from usersof an infotainment system, comprising: receiving a request from a userof the infotainment system, wherein receiving the request comprisesreceiving the request from the user as speech and receiving the requestfurther comprises receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality ofusers of the infotainment system as a multi-user speech signal;separating the multi-user speech signal into a plurality of individualspeech signals for each of the plurality of users; determining a domainfor the received request based on information contained in the receivedrequest, the domain specifying one or more categories for the request,wherein determining the domain for the received request comprisesdetermining the domain for the received request based on informationcontained in the speech; routing the received request to a virtualassistant assigned to handle requests for the determined domain, whereinthe virtual assistant is one of a plurality of virtual assistantsrespectively assigned to handle requests for a plurality of respectivelyassigned domains; transmitting a response to the request to the userwherein transmitting the response to the request to the user comprisesiteratively transmitting a plurality of responses to each of theplurality of requests, wherein iteratively transmitting the plurality ofresponses comprises: for each of the plurality of individual speechsignals, determining a processing time for determining the domain forthe received request based on the information contained in the receivedrequest; determining a priority for the requests according to a userpriority scheme for processing the requests; and transmitting theplurality of responses according to the priority for the requests andthe determined processing time for the received request.
 8. The methodof claim 7 wherein transmitting the plurality of responses comprisestransmitting the responses according to one of: an ascending priorityorder, a descending priority order, and the determined processing time.9. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting the plurality of responsescomprises initially ordering the requests according to the priority ofthe requests.
 10. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting theplurality of responses comprises initially ordering the requestsaccording to the determined processing time of the requests.
 11. Themethod of claim 7 further comprising identifying a spoken language foreach request based on the information contained in the speech signal forthe request, and wherein the user priority scheme prioritizes therequests based on the identified spoken language of the requests. 12.The method of claim 7 further comprising identifying a position of theuser, and wherein the user priority scheme prioritizes the requestsbased on the position of the user.
 13. The method of claim 12 whereinthe position of the user is one of a plurality of spatially separatedaudio zones.
 14. The method of claim 7 further comprising determining anidentity of each of the plurality of users from whom one or more of theplurality of requests originated, and wherein the user priority schemeprioritizes the requests based on the identity of the user.
 15. A methodfor processing requests from users of an infotainment system,comprising: receiving a request from a user of the infotainment system,wherein receiving the request comprises receiving the request from theuser as speech and receiving the request further comprises receiving aplurality of requests from a plurality of users of the infotainmentsystem as a multi-user speech signal; separating the multi-user speechsignal into a plurality of individual speech signals for each of theplurality of users; determining a domain for the received request basedon information contained in the received request, the domain specifyingone or more categories for the request, wherein determining the domainfor the received request comprises determining the domain for thereceived request based on information contained in the speech; routingthe received request to a virtual assistant assigned to handle requestsfor the determined domain, wherein the virtual assistant is one of aplurality of virtual assistants respectively assigned to handle requestsfor a plurality of respectively assigned domains; transmitting aresponse to the request to the user wherein transmitting the response tothe request to the user comprises iteratively transmitting a pluralityof responses to each of the plurality of requests, wherein iterativelytransmitting the plurality of responses comprises: for each of theplurality of individual speech signals, determining a time of arrival(TOA) for each of the individual speech signals; ordering the requestsaccording to a rank order of the determined TOA for the individualspeech signal of the requests; determining a priority for the requestsaccording to a user priority scheme for processing the requests; andtransmitting the plurality of responses according to the priority forthe requests and the rank order of the individual speech signals. 16.The method of claim 15 further comprising identifying a spoken languagebased on the information contained in the speech signal for the request,and wherein the user priority scheme prioritizes the requests based onthe identified spoken language of the requests.
 17. The method of claim15 further comprising identifying a position of the user, and whereinthe user priority scheme prioritizes the requests based on the positionof the user.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising determiningan identity of each of the plurality of users from whom one or more ofthe plurality of requests originated, and wherein the user priorityscheme prioritizes the requests based on the identity of the user. 19.The method of claim 15 wherein the user priority scheme prioritizes therequests based on the domain for the request.
 20. The method of claim 15wherein transmitting the plurality of responses comprises initiallyordering the requests according to the priority of the requests.